After SC order, HC reviews ex-UDH min’s land deed case

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court continued hearings in the high-profile "ekal patta" (single land deed) case Thursday and inquired about the state govt's position regarding the prosecution of former UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal and accused govt officials, who subsequently retired from services. The "ekal patta" case revolves around allegations of corruption related to single land deeds issued by JDA in 2011.During the proceedings, the state govt revealed a reversal in its position, now opposing the quashing of criminal prosecution against Dhariwal and the accused officials, a decision previously ordered through high court orders on Nov 15, 2022, and Jan 17, 2023. The case has garnered heightened attention following a Supreme Court directive issued on Nov 5, 2024, which overturned high court decisions quashing criminal proceedings against the accused. The Supreme Court mandated a fresh hearing in the matter to be concluded within six months.The proceedings before a division bench headed by chief justice MM Srivastava focused on petitions filed by Dhariwal and govt officials, including former UDH principal secretary GS Sandhu, former deputy secretary Nishkam Diwakar and former Zone Deputy Commissioner of Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) Omkarmal Saini, seeking to quash criminal proceedings against them.Representatives for the state, including additional solicitor general SV Raju and additional advocate generals Shiv Mangal Sharma and Anurag Sharma, asserted their opposition to the petitions filed by the accused individuals, emphasising the state's commitment to ensuring a fair trial. They indicated the state does not intend to pursue the revision petition challenging a trial court's order from Nov 26, 2021, which rejected the withdrawal of prosecution against Dhariwal and others. The court also addressed the impleadment of Ashok Pathak, whose special petitions led to the Supreme Court's Nov 2024 order. The next hearing is scheduled for April 7.