KARACHI, Oct 16: All cases, legal and those remanded by courts with regard to evacuee properties will be finalized by Nov 30, 2001, whereafter the Evacuee Property Branch of the Board of Revenue, Sindh, shall stand wound up, it was learnt from official sources.

It may be mentioned here that the Settlement and Rehabilitation Organization, formerly under the administrative control of the federal government, was decentralized with effect from 1.1.1972, and the residual work was entrusted to the provincial governments.

The relevant settlement and rehabilitation laws, enacted by the federal government were repealed, with effect from 1.7.1974, by virtue of the Evacuee Property and Displaced Persons Laws (Repeal) Ordinance, 1974, and later on replaced by the Evacuee Property and Displaced Laws (Repeal) Act, 1975.

Accordingly, all the undisposed-of evacuee properties, both urban and rural, stood transferred to the provincial government of Sindh w.e.f. the date of repeal, i.e. 1.7.1974, by virtue of Section 3 of the said act of 1975.

Now, the subject of the disposal of the aforesaid undisposed- of properties is being dealt with by the Land Utilization Department of the BoR.

According to official sources, in pursuance of the decision of the federal cabinet, the government of Sindh had notified winding up of the Settlement and Rehabilitation Organization, Sindh, with immediate effect vide notification no E&A(S&GAD)/5(3)/84-E/2 dated 4.6.1985, issued by the provincial chief secretary.

The residuary work of the defunct organization stood transferred for disposal to the BoR at the provincial level, Additional Commissioner, Karachi (now Secretary RS&EP); BoR and the deputy commissioners of Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana at the district level.

To deal with the residuary work of the defunct organization, an evacuee property branch has been created in the BoR at the provincial level with headquarters at Karachi as well as in the offices of the deputy commissioners.

Subsequently, the Sindh government notified the officers mentioned in notification no SEP/ADMN/85-291 dated Sept 15, 1985, as authorized officers for disposal of pending cases under Section 2 (2) of the act of 1975.

The residual work comprising documentation, both for urban and rural properties, recovery of outstanding dues of transfer price, rent or mortgage money of each properties already disposed of and discharge of miscellaneous liabilities out of these recoveries, pending immediately before the repeal of the aforesaid acts and regulations, was transferred to the provincial BoR for disposal by virtue of Section 4 of the repeal act, 1975, vide order no SEP/BOR/85- 224 dated 25.7.1985.

According to sources, it has been observed that repealment of acts and regulations regarding displaced persons have seen 26 long years pass by, but ostensibly some cases under the garb of residuary work are still being lingered on, surfaced afresh, etc, to the detriment of government interests.

Such glaring examples, specially allotment of 700 acres of prime land in cosmopolitan Karachi was done causing a horrendous loss of millions of rupees to the provincial exchequer, it was maintained.

The sources said that it was with this endeavour in mind to ensure that no one benefits unduly and unjustly, under the clout of residuary work, a letter was addressed to all commissioners of Sindh, plus Secretary and Deputy Secretary (RS&EP), with a request to get the two attached proforma filled in by an officer, to be nominated by them, by May 20, 2001, or earliest.

In the meantime, they were further requested to direct the authorized officers under their administrative control to be extra careful, meticulous and ensure that no undue favor, benefit or profit goes to people who do not deserve much of a favor, strictly as per law, rules, regulations and policy.

The sources said the authorized officers were directed to wind up the headquarters of evacuee properties located in BoR, Sindh Camp Office and evacuee property branches located throughout the province by disposing of genuine EP cases by June 30, 2001, as quarter of a century has passed by, when laws, enactments, etc, concerning displaced persons stood repealed and EPs already stand transferred as state land w.e.f. 01.07.1974.

The sources pointed out that it is still a hotbed for corruption, malpractice and allegations and needs to be curbed.

However, cases remanded by competent courts of law shall remain intact or pending therein as per merit law, etc.—APP