The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking various reliefs, including directions to take legal action against certain individuals and authorities involved in alleged corruption and embezzlement of public funds.
The petitioners had sought directions to the respondents to take appropriate legal action against individuals involved in alleged corruption and embezzlement, as well as to construct various community centers, toilets, and shops in certain villages.
They had also sought directions to take action against certain officials who had allegedly prepared false and manipulated enquiry reports.
During the pendency of the petition, the respondents had prepared a detailed memo of charges, which included various allegations against the ex-officio bearers/members of the Gram Panchayat.
An inquiry was ordered to be conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Solan, who submitted his report on February 1, 2023.
However, the report was not accepted, and a direction was issued to re-investigate the matter.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Solan, re-submitted his report on July 6, 2024, and an FIR was also registered.
Considering that the reliefs sought by the petitioners had been inquired into, the court disposed of the petition, holding that it had achieved its purpose.
However, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya made it clear that if any of the parties were still aggrieved, they were at liberty to avail themselves of the appropriate remedy available under the law.