During the preparation of the District Survey Report (DSR) for mining activities, a significant discrepancy came to light in the Gol Panchayat of Narot Jaimal Singh Block of Pathankot. The Mining Department had mistakenly registered 470 acres of land under two different names, which actually belonged to various landowners. This revelation emerged during an investigation initiated by the Deputy Commissioner.
Upon close examination of the revenue records, it was discovered that the entire land had been registered in the names of two prominent businesspersons from Pathankot, namely Vipan Gupta and Nipun Mahajan, rather than the rightful landowners.
The investigation report revealed that 384 acres of land were listed under serial numbers 45 to 64 in Nipun Mahajan’s name, while 86 acres of land were recorded under the name of Vipan Gupta. This land was designated for sand and gravel mining under the ownership rights of several individuals.
In response to the revealed irregularities, the Deputy Commissioner of Pathankot promptly ordered a thorough inquiry into the matter. The investigation confirmed that the mining department had submitted landowner details, but unfortunately, instead of listing the genuine landowners, the names of Vipan Gupta and Nipun Mahajan were recorded in the landowner column. According to the Punjab Land Reforms Act of 1972, an individual is not permitted to own more than 16 acres of land.
The Deputy Commissioner, Harbir Singh, informed that the inquiry’s findings have been reported to the Chief Secretary. The erroneous registration of 470 acres of land in the names of businessmen Vipan Gupta and Nipun Mahajan, instead of the actual landowners, was due to an administrative oversight by the Mining Department. The department has been duly notified about this situation, and the government is prepared to take strict actions in response.
Prior to this case, another land dispute had arisen in the Gol Panchayat of Narot Jaimal Singh Block. A total of 100 acres of land belonging to the Panchayat had been wrongly registered under the names of seven private parties by the former Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kuldeep Singh, just one day before his retirement. Subsequently, a Vigilance inquiry led to the filing of an FIR against nine individuals, including Kuldeep Singh. Some of the accused have been granted bail in this matter.
