STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the state government to ensure that the CID investigation into a case against officials involved in illegally appointing 173 candidates in the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd (AFDC) is expeditiously completed in accordance with law.
Moreover, a Division Bench comprising Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Susmita Phukan Khaund further observed that in case it is subsequently found "that the investigation is not being conducted in the right earnest and in accordance with law... there may be a fresh ground for this Court to look into the matter and, if necessary, monitor the investigation, if a proper case is made out on facts".
It is pertinent to mention that the Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a petitioner who alleged that while the services of the 173 illegally-appointed candidates have been terminated in the meantime by the AFDC, but no action has been taken yet against the erring officials who are guilty of criminal misconduct. Therefore, the petitioner requested the Bench to direct the authorities concerned to initiate a high level enquiry by the CBI or any other independent agency to inquire into the matter and take appropriate action.
The Bench noted that the Managing Director of the AFDC had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Officer in-Charge cum Deputy Superintendent of Police, CID, based on which a case was registered in September last year at the CID Police Station.
As such, the Bench closed the PIL, but added that petitioner is "given liberty to approach this Court once again as and when a fresh cause of action arises".
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