HC notices to Centre, state on amt utilization

Nagpur: Refusing the government’s demand to dismiss a plea filed for utilization and public declaration of amount collected under ‘Prime Minister Cares Fund’, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday, directed the respondents, including Centre and state, to explain the petitioner’s contentions.
While issuing notices to the Union ministries of defence home and finance, and other respondents, a division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Kilor directed them to clarify why appointments/nominations on fund’s remaining three posts were not made till date.
Divisional commissioners of Nagpur and Amravati along with city collector and municipal commissioner are other respondents in the case. Assistant solicitor general Anil Singh received notices for union ministries while Nivedita Mehta received it for state and Sudhir Puranik for the municipal commissioner.
“We’ve heard this matter for some time, however, the reply of these three Union ministries appears to be necessary on issues raised in the petition. The remaining respondents are also at liberty to file replies,” the judges said.
Before adjourning the hearing by three weeks, the HC allowed petitioner Arvind Waghmare to make amendments in the petition within a week and supply its copy to all respondents.
On March 28, the Union cabinet established a public charitable trust ‘PM’s Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations’ having the PM as a chairperson and Union ministers of defence, home and finance as its ex-officio trustees. While creating the funds, certain guidelines with objectives were issued that specifically mentioned that apart from the ex-officio chairperson and ex-officio trustees, three more trustees will be appointed/nominated.
Waghmare argued that till date these three trustees weren’t appointed despite clear guidelines, yet crores of rupees are being accepted. Being a donor to this fund himself, he insisted on appointment of other trustees for fortifying confidence of the general public.
Praying for nominating at least two opposition members from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to maintain transparency of the national fund, the lawyer claimed that respondents were yet to declare information on the amount collected under it and how it was being utilized.