Rajasthan High Court Seeks State's Response On PIL Alleging Corruption, Software Manipulation In 3018-Plots Lottery Scheme

The Rajasthan High Court has issued notice to the State on a PIL filed against the Urban Improvement Trust, Bhilwara, alleging serious irregularities and corruption in lottery based allotment of residential plots.The PIL alleges that the public allotment process of 3018 plots, that invited application money of around Rs. 17.6 Crores, was vitiated by serious irregularities, arbitrariness and corruption, which violated Articles 14 and 21. It was submitted that even though initially the applications were invited in offline mode, and it was specifically mentioned in the application booklet that the allotment process was to be carried out in offline mode only, the State subsequently conducted an online lottery, thereby altering the terms and conditions of allotment without any prior notice or public disclosure. Furthermore, an alleged violation of Section 43A and 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 as well as Rule 8 of the Information Technology Rules, 2011 was referred to. It was submitted that an unverified, unaudited and unauthorized software system, SEED, was adopted for the online lottery without ensuring its authentication, and security audit. The PIL stated that use of untested and non-transparent software for such large-scale public allotment amounted to gross administrative negligence, lack of transparency and denial of fair procedure resulting in violation of the principles of natural justice. It was also stated that the allotment results revealed clear manipulation as the serial numbers of successful applicants ran beyond the total applications received by the State. PIL also highlighted contravention of the eligibility criteria prescribed for the scheme, alleging allocation of multiple plots to members of the same family, as well as even to the officials of UIT Bhilwara, which violated the basic principles of conflict of interest and administrative propriety. In this light, it was submitted that State actions amounted to misuse of official position, favouritism, and corruption, resulting in embezzlement of public trust and loss of public faith in the functioning of statutory authority. A division bench of Dr. Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Anuroop Singhi has listed the matter on November 18, 2025.Title: Hemendra Sharma & Ors. v the State of Rajasthan & Ors. Counsel for Petitioners: Mr. Naman MohnotCounsel for Respondents: Mr. Rajesh Panwar, AAG with Mr. Ayush Gehlot, Mr. Dinesh OjhaClick Here To Read/Download Order

Rajasthan High Court Seeks State's Response On PIL Alleging Corruption, Software Manipulation In 3018-Plots Lottery Scheme

Nupur Agrawal

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