High Court issues notice to Chief Secretary and 19 others

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The Itanagar Permanent Bench of the Gauhati High Court has issued a notice to the State’s Chief Secretary, along with 19 others, comprising of various departments of the government of Arunachal Pradesh and Tagaing Taga, son of Rumgong MLA and Power Minister Tamiyo Taga, who are respondents in PIL no. 36(AP) 2018, to reply to a writ petition (civil) filed by the 32 Rumgong Intellectual Forum (32RIF).

The 32RIF had filed a writ petition (civil) against the chief secretary and 19 others, seeking an inquiry into the alleged misappropriation and embezzlement of public fund to the tune of Rs 44.85 crores meant for development of rural areas under 32-Rumgong(ST) Assembly Constituency under Siang district.

This, the forum alleged, “was in violation of the prevalent norms and procedures as per the provisions of the central public works department manual in floating tender and awarding work to firms, thereby causing huge loss to the state exchequer, by the contractors/private persons, herein, in connivance with the respondent authorities concerned by way of adopting fraudulent methods viz. producing fake and concocted/manufactured documents, against various developmental works”.

“Upon taking into consideration the submissions of the rival parties, at some length, let notice of motion be issued calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why a Rule should not be issued as prayed for; and/or why such further or other order(s) should not be passed as to this Court may deem fit and proper. The notice is made returnable within 3rd Week of November, 2018,” the Court stated in its order.