THE SUPREME Court on Wednesday ordered directed the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the alleged “collusion” between some land owners and officials of the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) leading to the former being paid exorbitant compensation for acquired plots at the cost of the exchequer.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also barred construction of new projects in Noida without environmental impact assessment and approval by the Supreme Court’s Green Bench.
On January 23, the top court set up an SIT to probe allegations of “excess payments”. On Wednesday, while considering the report of that SIT, the bench directed setting up of a new SIT comprising three IPS officers.
This SIT, it said, “will immediately register preliminary enquiries and proceed to inquire into the points highlighted by the previous SIT… In this regard, forensic experts as well as the Economic Offenses Wing of state police shall be associated.” The court said that “if the SIT, after preliminary enquiry, finds that a prima facie cognizable offense was committed, it shall register the case and proceed further in accordance with law.” The court also ordered that the outcome of the SIT shall be placed on record by way of a status report by the head of SIT, who shall be an officer not below the rank of Commissioner of Police.
The SC directed that “in order to infuse transparency and citizen-centric approach in day-to-day functioning of NOIDA, a copy of the SIT report…be placed before the UP Chief Secretary, who in turn shall place it along with appropriate agenda item before the Council of Ministers to take appropriate decision.”
The Court asked the Chief Secretary to “also post a Chief Vigilance Officer in NOIDA, who should either be from IPS cadre or on deputation from Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The bench asked the Chief Secretary to put up the matter before competent authority and ensure that a citizen advisory board is constituted for Noida within four weeks.
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The SC said that “wherever the SIT is required to seek prior sanction to prosecute officers, competent authority shall accord sanction within two weeks of submission of application.”
The court will take up the matter next after eight weeks.