NEW DELHI, February 20: The "mix-up" of Defence personnel and foreigners at the elite commercial complex, `Santushti', run by the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA), without observing the normal formalities and procedures was an ``undesirable arrangement'' from the national security point of view, the Delhi High Court has been told.Stating this in an urgent application yesterday for staying any further construction at the complex, situated near the Prime Minister's residence and a five-star hotel in the Capital, environmental and legal activist B L Wadehra also expressed serious apprehensions that this elite shopping centre can be or even may have been in use as a meeting place for ``unhealthy elements''.
According to rules, Defence officers including Air Force officers can meet foreigners only with the permission of their authorities. After meeting any foreigner, the defence officers have to report in writing what transpired in such meetings. The rules are meant to prevent passage of officialand sensitive information to any outside elements, the petitioner alleged.
``The Santushti complex, situated near Chanakyapuri where almost all foreign embassies were housed, is frequented by high-profile clientele largely belonging to the foreign embassies,'' Wadehra stated, adding that because it has been developed into a public shopping centre, the Air Force officers and other Defence officers have also ``easy and unnoticed access to the complex''.
``Such a mix-up of Defence personnel and foreigners without observing the normal formalities is an undesirable arrangement from the point of national security,'' the applicant alleged.
Furthermore, since the complex was adjacent to the official residence of the Prime Minister, this also involved an element of vital security risk, he further alleged.
The application said, ``The petitioner while making the above submissions has in his mind, the statement made by the Defence Minister to the effect that he (the minister) suspects the hand of theInter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in the current agitation by certain section of the officers of the Air Force.''
Santushti was ``amenable'' to penetration by agencies like the ISI whom the Defence Minister suspected of instigating the agitation as the shopping complex was open to all, the applicant said.
The application was filed in connection with a public interest petition filed by Wadehra alleging that AFWWA, a non-governmental organisation, having bought the land at a throw-away price, was making huge profits by illegally constructing additional shops and selling them at exorbitant rates. The association, however, did not share the profits with the Air Force or the Defence Ministry.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
