Nagpur: Rejecting Maharashtra government’s demand for granting two weeks to file status
report on Rs70,000 crore
irrigation scam, the Nagpur
bench of Bombay high
court on Thursday asked it to complete the formalities within a week.
A division bench comprising justices Bhushan Dharmadhikari and Zaka Haq also directed it to file detailed information on an affidavit through director general of state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Earlier, petitioner Janmanch (PIL NO 12/2016), through counsel Anil Kilor, filed a pursis suggesting names of retired HC judges Jai Narayan Patel and Ravindra Chavan as members of the independent committee that would monitor progress of probe by two Special Investigative Teams (SITs) on regular basis. The NGO also submitted terms of reference of judges panel as directed by HC.
The court was hearing five PILs related to the scam which were clubbed. The first one was by Janmanch through counsel Firdos Mirza, while the other four were by social worker Atul Jagtap through lawyer Shridhar Purohit.
Earlier on Friday, the exasperated court flayed the government and ACB for not doing enough for probing the multi-crore scam and ordered an independent probe.
“We’re of the opinion that the matter, in which allegations are in respect of misappropriation of several hundred crores of rupees, is required to be monitored by an independent committee on regular basis. Earlier orders show that this court expressed faith and believed that the matter would be inquired/ investigated and would be taken to a logical end. However, the manner in which it proceeded shows that if it’s not monitored by a committee on regular basis, it will not be taken to its logical end,” the bench stated.
The HC asked petitioners to point out the steps taken by the government to provide infrastructure to facilitate the SIT’s working and judges committee. “After examining the affidavits and hearing the counsels for respective parties, we find that there is no progress in the matter. The very object and purpose for which SIT is formed, has not been taken any further,” it stated.
Quoting its old orders, the judges observed that the grievance made in the PILs reflected negligence towards the grievances of the people of Vidarbha. “The funds earmarked for irrigation projects should be released for the purposes for which they were supposed to. The grievances reflect the state of affairs and an impression is created that the government does not have the will to redress the matters brought to this court again,” they said.
They added that their February 22 order fortifies the doubt which lingered in their mind about unwillingness on part of the inspecting agency and government to proceed in the matter.
“This court expressed its anguish and granted time to the chief secretary to come clean on record. He was cautioned that all the necessary facts having bearing on the issues must be disclosed and appropriate assistance should be rendered. It was expected that the chief secretary will act as a responsible officer and consider seriousness of issue,” they said, adding that nothing concrete came out after that.
