The Uttarakhand High Court has recently directed the Uttarakhand Government to ensure the District Magistrates of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Pauri Garhwal should be directed to complete the inquiry into alleged corruption at the state-run Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board and send their respective inquiry reports to the State Government by December 1.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Raghjvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Narayan Singh Dhanik heard the PIL, which raised the alleged scam in purchasing and distributing tool kits, sewing machines and cycles by the Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board in October-November 2020. According to the petitioner, about Rs 20 crore were spent.
However, the Court held that it is more a case of embezzlement, than of genuinely spending the money and distribution of the said items. Apparently, an Inquiry Committee was constituted.
According to the order dated 06.09.2021, the Advocate General had made a statement that the State Government should be given a week’s time to take a decision on the report of the Inquiry Committee. The said decision was taken on 16.09.2021 and the same has been placed before the High Court.
The Court on a bare perusal of the letter dated 16.09.2021, written by the Joint Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand, noted that on 17.12.2020, the Government had directed the District Magistrates of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Pauri Garhwal to constitute an Inquiry Committee, and to carry out the inquiry in their respective districts with regard to the allegations made by the petitioner and other persons.
Moreover, according to the said letter, on 22.06.2021, a letter was sent to the District Magistrate, Haridwar to expedite the inquiry, and to revert back to the Government. Similarly, on 06.08.2021, a reminder letter was sent.
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The High Court observed that despite these two letters, the District Magistrate, Hardiwar has not bothered to revert back to the State Government.
Furthermore, according to the said letter, meanwhile, the Government has taken a decision to initiate a Departmental Inquiry against four persons, namely Daymati Rawat, Secretary, Uttarakhand Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Dr. Akashdeep, Chief Medical Officer (In-charge), State Employees Insurance, B.N. Semwal, Chief Pharmacist, State Employees Insurance, and Nawab Singh, Senior Assistant, Labour Department.
The Court was surprised that when the allegation of embezzlement of Rs 20 crore has been made, the State Government has not bothered to take concrete steps against the erring delinquent officers. Instead, the State Government has merely indulged in sending directions and reminders to the concerned District Magistrates. “But, despite the letters written to the District Magistrates, the letters sent by the State Government seem to have fallen on deaf ears.”
“Merely an eye-wash, and as almost a placebo, the Government has taken a ginger step of initiating the Departmental Inquiry against four persons.”
The Court is further surprised that the Government is not serious about the inquiry with regard to the embezzlement of Rs 20 crores. “Obviously, things are deeper than what they appear to be. A thorough inquiry needs to be made by the State Government”, the Court said .
“Therefore, this Court directs the State Government to ensure that the District Magistrates of Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Pauri Garhwal, should be directed to complete the inquiry by 01.12.2021, and to send their respective inquiry reports to the State Government. The State Government is directed to take a decision on the basis of such an inquiry report, positively, by 07.12.2021”
-the order reads.
The High Court further directed that the inquiry report so submitted by the respective District Magistrates, and the decision so taken by the State Government shall be informed to the High Court by 08.12.2021 while posting the matter on the same date.