The Gauhati High Court directed the Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat to examine the plea of the petitioner and take necessary actions in accordance with law regarding illegal acts of elected representatives of Jorhat Municipal Board.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice (Acting) N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Soumitra Saikia closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Amguri Naba Nirman Samity alleging that some of the elected representatives of Jorhat Municipal Board had resorted to unfair means in submitting forged educational qualification certificates as could be ascertained through information obtained on applications filed under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
In this regard, it has been submitted that the petitioner had approached the concerned authorities by submitting representations to verify such illegal acts and take necessary action. However, nothing has materialized compelling the petitioner to approach the Court by filing the PIL.
The Court does not wish to make any comment as regards the allegation that some of the elected representatives of Jorhat Municipal Board had indulged in certain malpractice by submitting forged educational qualification certificates inasmuch as it will require proper ascertainment and verification of facts.
However, considering the fact that the petitioner has obtained information through RTI Act, the Bench was satisfied that a prima facie case has been made out for us to direct the authorities to verify the allegations made by the petitioner and take necessary action in that regard, however, giving opportunity to the affected person(s).
Accordingly, the High Court disposed of the PIL with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat to examine the plea of the petitioner and take necessary actions in accordance with law for which the petitioner will furnish a copy of this PIL to the Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, which shall be treated as a fresh representation.