The Madras High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking directions to take action upon the Petitioner’s complaint regarding irregularities and corruption in the general funds of the panchayat.
R.Anandha Babu , counsel for the petitioner, submits that the persons at the helm of the affairs of running the Kaniyambadi Panchayat Union have engaged in large scale corruption and irregularities. The President does not have power to spend more than Rs.5000/- in one year, however various transactions are entered into running in lakhs.
According to the counsel for the petitioner, the weekly market is conducted without following the rules. The specific procedure is provided for running the weekly market. The same is not adhered to. The inquiry is conducted protecting the culprits. The petitioner has retired as a Block Development Officer and, as such, he is aware of all the intricacies.
The Inspector of Police, Vigilance and Anti-corruption, has filed a status report about the inquiry conducted. It is submitted that the expenses are made pursuant to the vouchers; quotations were called; and no revenue loss has been caused to the Panchayat Union. It is admitted that there were late remittances of the market fee collected by the accused persons Deputy Block Development Officer and the Secretary of the Panchayat Union.
It is submitted by the State Government Pleader that charges are framed on 25.10.2023 against the aforesaid two persons and Block Development Officer. Explanation was received on 27.11.2023 and an Inquiry Officer was appointed on 13.12.2023. The inquiry initiated is in progress.
“The respondents shall proceed further with the inquiry and take it to its logical end. The respondents shall endeavour to complete the inquiry expeditiously, preferably within six months”, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice J. Sathya Narayana Prasad directed.