Lokayukta complaint against Vishwabharathi HBCS

'Co-operative society committed gross irregularities'

A complaint has been lodged with the Lokayukta alleging irregularities in allotment of sites by Vishwabharathi House Building Co-operative Society (HBCS) in 4th phase Girinagar.

The complainant L Nagarajamurthy, who is a member of the society since 1972, has sought criminal proceedings against registrar, joint registrar of co-operative societies and the BDA commissioner.

In his complaint, the complainant has alleged that despite High Court order, which stipulated the guidelines to be followed while allotting the sites, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) cleared the allotment even before the registrar of co-operative societies could clear the list based on seniority.

The complainant alleged that the development authority approved the layout plan of 1,335 sites and issued khata to 850 sites, of which 800 allottees were not the members of the Society. He further stated in the complaint that the Society also allotted more than one site to 100 persons. All these allotments were made before the release of seniority list.

In connivance
The society, in connivance with the BDA officials and the registrar of co-operative societies, indulged in irregularities while allotting sites, he alleged. 

A dispute between the Society and the BDA on the acquisition of land had reached the High Court and an order was passed in November 2010.

“I am the senior most member of the society and as per the guidelines issued by the High Court, I should have been put in possession of a freehold site. The Society submitted blue print of allotment to the BDA without mentioning the dimension of the sites and seniority list. The BDA approved the allotment list without going into the details. The Society published the seniority list on January 16 in 2013. However, hundreds of sites were already allotted to private persons during October and November 2012,'' Nagarajamurthy said.

The complainant alleged that many private persons were allotted 3-5 sites. “The Society made supplemental deed with a free site of 625 sq ft to an individual named Nalina, who was already in possession of a 575 sq-ft site. Similarly, Diwakara, who was in possession of a site measuring 1200 sq-ft was gifted with an additional 1200 sq-ft  site for without any consideration. The documents show that 18 such persons were allotted with 46 sites. The Society has registered supplemental deeds just few days before the release of seniority list,” the complaint alleged.

After demolition
The complainant further stated that he had approached the Co-operative Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad on the alleged irregularities in the Society in July 2013. The minister directed the joint registrar of societies to take action. However, joint registrar informed Nagarajamurthy that site will be handed over to him after demolishing the unauthorised structure.

Meanwhile, registrar of co-operative society appointed a special officer to the Vishwabharathi HBCS in February 2014 in the wake of en mass resignation of directors of the society.