All's not well with the State Agriculture Department: Gauhati High Court

GUWAHATI: All's not well with the State Agriculture department. So much so that even the Gauhati High Court had to say in Shakespearean style – something is rotten in the state of Denmark – to state what's happening in the department. The High Court made such a comment while reacting to a letter dashed to Dhubri SP by the department in connection with a case.

It all started due to the alleged anomalies in the distribution of pump sets to farmers by the department. Gauripur Agriculture Executive Engineer Rekib Ahmed distributed pump sets among farmers allegedly deviating from the department's course, and that led the Divisional Engineer of Gauripur to file an FIR against him at the Gauripur Police Station on June 9, 2020. Gauripur police registered a case (217/2020 under Section 120(B)/420/648/509 of IPC). The Executive Engineer has since been absconding to evade non-bailable arrest.

In the meantime, Director of Agriculture Manoj Kumar dashed a letter to Dhubri SP requesting the latter not to take immediate action against the Executive Engineer even as the investigation can continue. The reason for not taking immediate action against the Executive Engineer, as stated by the Agriculture Director in his letter to the SP, is: The department has been conducting an inquiry into the allegation against the Executive Engineer and sought some documents relating to the distribution of pump sets from him. The letter said that the police can arrest the Executive Engineer if he is found guilty after the investigation is over.

The Executive Engineer then moved the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. Then the Dhubri police objected to the bail petition and informed the High Court of the letter it had received from the Agriculture Director. Dhubri police termed the letter as interference in its investigation. Commenting on what's happening in the Agriculture department, the High Court then said, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

According to sources in the Agriculture department, the Divisional Engineer shouldn't have filed the FIR with the police without informing the matter to higher-ups in the department that is conducting an inquiry against the alleged anomalies.

Confirming the Agriculture Director's letter, sources in the office of Dhubri SP said that they would act against the absconding Executive Engineer.

Investigation is also going on in the large-scale anomalies in the 'Pradhan Mantri Krishak Sanman Nidhi' in the State Agriculture department. According to allegations, a large number of fake farmers availed the benefits depriving the genuine ones. Last year, the department had to stop the distribution of tractors because of the large-scale anomalies. The scheme has, however, been resumed. Even now, there are allegations that farmers are being persuaded to buy the tractors of a particular brand.

Also watch: Morning Bulletin | 20th June. 2020