Scrap discretionary quota for allotting lands: SC

One-liner: The day has come to do away with the allotment of public properties under discretionary quota as it leads to corruption and favouritism, the Supreme Court said on Saturday, advocating their distribution largely through auctions.

HC order set aside: The apex court was setting aside an order of the Orissa HC closing a criminal case against three govt employees accused of conspiring in allotting 10 plots to their family and relatives in Bhubaneswar in 2005.

• In a significant verdict, the top court said many a time the guidelines on the fair and transparent allotment are hardly followed

No due diligence: It was critical of the courts for quashing the criminal cases without due diligence and said the closing of a complaint or an FIR should be an exception rather than any ordinary rule.

Appeal allowed: The bench allowed the state's appeal regarding quashing of criminal proceedings against the three accused serving in the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA. The then state minister Samer Dey is also facing trial in the matter

Huge loss to BDA: There are specific allegations with regard to the huge loss caused to the BDA as, according to the prosecution, the plots were allotted at throwaway prices and this aspect is required to be considered at the stage of the trial.

• Allotment of public properties must be transparent and in such cases public interest only has to be the prime consideration, it said

Source: PTI