Delhi's once-favourite Priya Cinema under Information Commission's lens

NEW DELHI: Among New Delhi's most popular places in the nineties, Priya Cinema in Vasant Vihar has come under the scanner of the Central Information Commission, after the Delhi Development Authority, during the course of a hearing, failed to produce records containing details about the lease given to the property. The Commission on Friday ordered a thorough examination of the issue.

The complainant has specifically demanded to know “the name and the year in which property known as Priya Cinema, Basant Lok, Vasant Vihar was leased out, and for how many years, and whether the property was still lease hold or free hold or not.” The commission observed that while there was delay on the side of the DDA in providing the information that was sought, the response by itself was unsatisfactory too.

The DDA had responded by saying that the plot for the cinema hall was auctioned in the year 1970 on “Annual Rental Basis subject to enhancement of 15% after 30 years as per the terms and conditions of the auction, and the plot was disposed off in favour of M/s Priya Exhibitor Pvt Ltd being H-1 bidder.” However, no documents to show the allocation, or the tenure for which the allotment was made, terms and conditions of the allotment, present status of land whether freehold or leasehold, were provided, the commission noted.

CIC Bimal Julka, in his order issued on Friday, has demanded that the entire case be re-examined. The order has also instructed DDA to "provide point-wise information to all the questions asked, and disclose all information pertaining to the terms and conditions of allotment of plot to M/s Priya Exhibitor Pvt Ltd on their website within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order depending upon the condition for containment of the Corona Virus Pandemic in the Country.”