Houses of Punjab, Haryana ministers owe licence fee of Rs 4.42 crore to UT

Besides postulation and attraction of licence interest relationship of authorities gathering occupied by assorted departments and non-residential buildings, each specified dues are deposited successful the authorities relationship successful the UT treasury. Further, successful lawsuit of abrogation of accommodation, nary request certificate is issued by this department.

During the scrutiny of the records of this bureau by the audit department, the second observed that an outstanding licence interest of Rs 4.42 crore successful respect of houses occupied by ministers and lawman ministers of Punjab and Haryana was pending.

As per provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, licence interest astatine the complaint fixed from clip to clip is recoverable successful respect of houses allotted from UT excavation accommodation to the ministers of Punjab and Haryana.

The audit successful its study specified, “During trial cheque of the records maintained successful the bureau of the Assistant Controller (F&A) Rents, UT, Chandigarh for the twelvemonth 2021-23, it was observed that houses/bungalows were allotted successful antithetic sectors of Chandigarh to ministers and lawman ministers of Punjab and Haryana states.”

The study further added, “It was observed that licence interest and involvement amounting to Rs 4,42,61,332 was recoverable from these states up to March 31,2023.”

While houses of ministers and lawman ministers of Punjab authorities owed Rs 1,76,30,522, the houses of ministers and lawman ministers of Haryana authorities owed Rs 2,66,30,810, arsenic per the records.

The study besides specified that connected being pointed out, the section acrophobic replied that the substance is nether progressive information and being taken up with the governments of Punjab and Haryana regularly. Compliance volition beryllium intimated successful owed course. However, the compliance is awaited, it was stated.

Non-recovery from unauthorised occupants

At the aforesaid time, the audit besides observed that determination was non-recovery of licence interest from unauthorised occupants to the tune of Rs 1.37 crore.

The Chandigarh Allotment Rules 1966 inter alia supply that the authorities worker to whom the allotment has been made, specified authorities servant shall beryllium liable to wage charges for usage and concern of residence arsenic per applicable rates of licence fee. It is the work of bureau of the Assistant Controller (F&A) Rents, UT, Chandigarh to ticker the betterment of licence interest made arsenic per applicable rates and to guarantee that nary excess oregon abbreviated betterment of licence interest has been made.

However, the audit team, during the trial cheque of records maintained by the bureau of the Assistant Controller (F&A) Rents, for the twelvemonth 2021-23, stated that licence interest from 20 unauthorised occupants was outstanding arsenic of March 31, 2023.

And this had resulted successful non-recovery of licence interest amounting to Rs 1,37,98,560, including interest, from the unauthorised occupants, the study said.

Here too, connected being pointed out, the section replied that continuous efforts are being made to retrieve the magnitude and that compliance volition beryllium intimated successful owed people arsenic the compliance successful this lawsuit is besides awaited.