National Herald case: This is how Gandhis-owned AJL was violating the land-use agreement at Herald House in Delhi

In wake of massive simultaneous developments in National Herald case, with Delhi High Court choosing to t stay Herald House eviction tice and Haryana Goverr sanctioning prosecution of Ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Republic TV has accessed show-cause tice issued by government to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper, detailing violations leing up to eviction tice.

tice is attached to an RTI response issued to BJP MP Dr Subramanian Swamy regarding matter. In his application, Dr Swamy asks about 2011 takeover of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Limited, which is majority owned by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, who are both directors. 

Dr Swamy first seeks an answer as to wher Herald House in Delhi was given out for commercial leasing following AJL's sale to Young Indian, which would have entailed a violation of an agreement with government that building would only be used for printing and publishing of a newspaper. response is inconclusive.

Rajya Sabha MP n asks if any show-cause tices were issued to AJL on this violation, to which answer is in affirmative -- in June 2018. A copy of tice is attached to response, it states, ding, in answer to a follow-up question by Dr Swamy, that any impending action by concerned ministry is under examination.

show-cause tice issued to AJL n goes on to reveal details of violations at Herald House at New Delhi's Bahur Shah Zafar Marg.

NATIONAL HERALD LAND USE AGREEMENT:

first two points in tice provide a background as to how AJL obtained permission at a consessional rate to construct Herald House, and for what purpose, in 1963. By 2013, rules regarding use of 6-floor building (basement, ground floor, floors 1-4) were modified, such that any one floor of building and basement were to be used to for publishing and offices of newspaper.

HOW AGREEMENT WAS VIOLATED: 

Next, however, it confirms that terms were flouted. In an inspection conducted in April 2018, it was found that re was functioning printing press in building, r any paper stock. Inste, while National Herald paper was being published starting September 2017 after being out of publication for many years, it was being printed elsewhere, at press of Indian Express in ida. Meanwhile, inspecting team found that most of premises h been leased out, which becomes a violation and amounts to misuse of alloted land if printing is t ongoing. AJL was n given 30 days to reply as to why action shouldn't be taken against it. 

It was on October 30 that an order was issued by Urban Development Ministry ending lease of AJL and asking it to vacate premises by vember 15.

Below are documents mentioned above: