The Uttarakhand High Court issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed raising the grievance with regard to the alleged embezzlement and financial irregularities committed by respondent no.5, who is the Chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Jaspur.
Respondent no.6 is her son. The allegation of the petitioner is that respondent no.5 is a pardanaseen lady. It is respondent no.6 who is discharging all the functions and exercising powers of respondent no.5. The allegation is that there are serious acts of embezzlement and financial irregularities committed by respondent nos.5 and 6, in respect whereof, complaints have been made to the respondent authorities.
Though, the inquiries have been initiated, the same have not been concluded, and no action has been taken against the said respondents till date.
Amarendra Pratap Singh, Additional Advocate General for the State , submitted that the inquiry is pending before the concerned authorities.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal directed the respondents to ensure that the inquiries are concluded without any undue delay. The status of the inquiries, and if they are concluded, their findings should be placed before the Court along with the counter-affidavits.
In case, it is found that there is merit in any of the allegations of the petitioner, the Bench expects the respondent-authorities to act in accordance with law so as to protect public interest. Matter is listed on 02.11.2023 for further hearing.