The Gauhati High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed raising a grievance that the respondent authorities are doing several irregularities in conducting the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee ACT) works for the financial years 2018 to 2022 under Katigorah Development Block of Cachar District.
It is the allegation of the petitioner that the respondents are misappropriating the Government funds.
Having gone through the contents of the petition, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice N. Unni Krishnan Nair noted that earlier also the petitioner has filed PIL in 2021, raising same concern and the Court by the order dated 22.02.2021 has disposed of the said PIL petition with a direction to the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Panchayat and rural Development Department (PNRD) to take cognizance of the matter, and after hearing the petitioner and other concerned persons take appropriate action by way of passing speaking order .
As per the petitioner, when the said direction has not been complied with despite a representation is filed on behalf of the petitioner, he moved a contempt petition in which the Principal Secretary has submitted that an enquiry was conducted and six officials were involved in the misappropriation of funds against whom appropriate action is being taken in accordance with law.
From the record, the High Court noted that the Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell, Assam has also issued directions for registration of FIR against the guilty persons.
Having taken note of the above facts, the High Court is of the view that if the grievances of the petitioner still has not been redressed, he is free to approach the concerned authority for redressal of his grievances. It is expected by the Court that if any such representation is filed by the petitioner, the concerned authority shall take cognizance of the same and initiate appropriate proceedings in accordance with law.