HC stays beneficiary selection in lbari

CM'S SPECIAL SCHEMES

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Dec 18: In another set-back to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who has announced a slew of schemes involving cash incentives for beneficiaries ahead of the assembly elections, the Gauhati High Court today kept in abeyance the selection procedure of beneficiaries for eight such fincial assistance schemes in lbari district.

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed that the beneficiaries for the schemes were chosen three months before the State government notified the guidelines for the selection procedure.

The schemes include fincial assistance to women SHGs, erosion-hit, homeless, widows, small farmers etc.

Dijen Talukdar and thirteen others filed a petition at the high court alleging that the selection procedure was not fair. "There was no criteria whatsoever in selection of the beneficiaries. No advertisement was published inviting applications," the petitioners, who failed to make it to the beneficiary list despite being eligible, said. 

The court has issued notices to 26 respondents and has fixed January 7 as the next date for hearing.