Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 12: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ashiq Hussain and others regarding issuance of job cards to Govt employees, students that too minor and dead persons under MNREGA scheme in connivance with revenue officials, Division Bench of High Court today expressed displeasure over delay in registration of FIR by the State Vigilance Organization (SVO)
When the PIL came up for hearing, Senior AAG Gagan Basotra informed that FIR has been recommended in the MNREGA scam highlighted by the petitioners in Panchayat Gurrekrah as during the preliminary enquiry conducted by SVO the allegations have been prima-facie established. He, however, said that FIR was yet to be registered as the matter was lying for approval before the Director Vigilance.
Upon this, Division Bench comprising Chief Justice M M Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi asked, in the open court, “how much time is needed for registration of FIR”. Looking into the seriousness of the issue, the DB directed the Senior AAG to come-up with the latest status by December 17, 2013. “The case calls for registration of criminal cases against such offenders”, the DB added.
Under this scheme, adult of every house hold the right to job card and they are guaranteed 100 days manual work to check unemployment in rural areas. However, taking undue advantage of their positions, the official respondents made gross abuse of the process of law by issuing job cards to those who were not eligible.
In the status report filed by SSP Vigilance, it has been stated that there were number of persons who were not eligible but their job cards were prepared to withdraw the amount. Moreover, out of 18 works approved for Panchayat Gurrekrah, 10 works were subjected to inspection. As per the inspection report of the Engineering Wing (VO), the works were either unexecuted or meagerly executed although full payment was made.
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