| Govt succumbs under pressure, lets defaulter off the hook | | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 11: Succumbing to pressure government has bowed before powerful defaulter, a pharma entrepreneur, who seems reluctant to pay Rs 1.43 lakhs as rent for a shop established inside the hospital premises.
Sources told Early Times that till the formation of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led state government in March 2015, the department made efforts to recover the dues.
"The department put its recovery process under the carpet, as allottee of the shop in the hospital, was close aide of a senior minister," they alleged.
They said that the management of the hospital had rented-out the shop in its premises after bidding and as per bidding rules Rs 38 lakhs was to be paid by allottee to hospital annually.
Sources said that on December 30, 2014, top officials directed their subordinates to recover pending dues from the allottee. "The balance amount due on account of bidding money amounting to Rs 95.50 lacs", the officials said.
However, obeying the order the Medical Superintendent thrice reminded the allottee to deposit bidding amount.
"The first communication was made on December 31, 2014. While after 20 days a reminder was sent to allottee ,accordingly, second reminder on March 4, 2015 forwarded to the allottee by the", sources said, adding that the sum of annual bidding money was around Rs 1.50 lakhs till date. "Due to strong political links of the allottee, neither the amount was realized and nor the previous administration took action.
The top officials were pressurized by their political masters to push the matter of recovery under the carpet," sources alleged. |
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