HC issues notice to State government

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, Dec 7: While hearing a PIL No 23 (AP) 2016 filed by the leaders of Aruchal Anti-Corruption Se (AACS) against the state government, particularly the public works department, the Itagar permanent bench of Gauhati Court on Monday issued notice which is returble on January 17 next. The prayer for interim order would also be considered on the returble date, the court said. The PIL was filed by Tadar Tang and nine others of AACS against state of AP and 77 others.

According to PIL, the state government through its agencies have allocated contractual work valued at Rs 400 crores under the Revised Estimate Scheme (RES) without floating any tender and the contract has been awarded in a pick and choose manner thereby flouting all established norms for issuance of public tender. Counsel of the petitioners J Hussain submitted before the court that even during the year 2013-14, an amount of Rs 110 crores was allocated against the RES and the present petitioners have approached the Court by filing PIL No 64/2014. In connection with the said proceeding, the Additiol Advocate General of Aruchal had given a categorical assurance to the Court that henceforth tenders would be floated for making expenditure under the RES scheme.

On the basis of the said undertaking, the PIL was closed by an order on November 4, 2014. However, the petitioners pleaded that neither any tender has been floated for balance work under 2013-14 scheme nor is the Government floating any tender for the current fincial year, thereby clearly acting in violation of not only the undertaking given to this Court but also the CPWD norms.

The court of Justice Sumam Shyam and Justice Ajit Borthakur further said “on or before the returble date, the Government Advocate is directed to obtain instruction as to whether the Government has complied with the assurance recorded in the order passed by this Court in PIL No. 64/2014. “It is made clear that any disbursement of fund under RES made during the pendency of the PIL would be subject to the outcome of this proceeding, the court order further said.