Take back portion of land leased to Bowring Institute, says CAG report

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has asked the State government to take back a portion of land leased out to Bowring Institute for not utilising it for the intended purpose.

In its report on Revenue Sector for the year ended March 31, 2014 tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, the CAG said the Institute has not been using portion of 229 ft / 225 ft land granted to it on lease for 99 years in 1956 on annual lease rent of Rs 30. The land was granted for the purpose of establishing a club under rule 19(4)(VIII) of the Karnataka Land Grant rules.

The report said the Institute had sub-let 150ft x 100 ft land to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in 1969 after obtaining permission from the government. The order stipulated that the lessee shall remit 50 per cent of the lease rent collected from the IOC. The lease period was for 20 years, and it was later extended, it added.

“From the chain of events, it is evident that the land which was sub-let to IOC was not required by Bowring Institute for its intended bona fide purpose of running a club. The Institute had put up its own building and other facilities in rest of the land and were running club activities,” the CAG stated, adding that appropriate action should be taken to take back portion of the land.

If done, the government will get additional lease rent of Rs 3.14 crore during the current lease period. Though the national auditor had brought the issue to notice of the government in July 2014, it is yet to reply, the report added.