SOCIAL WELFARE SCAM: Gauhati High Court gives last chance for counter-affidavit

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has granted four weeks "as the last opportunity" to the State Government to file a counter-affidavit in connection with a PIL which has alleged misuse/misappropriation of Government Funds (Central as well as State Government funds) in the State's Directorate of Social Welfare from the year 2009-10 to 2017-18.

According to the PIL filed by an NGO named the Amguri Naba Nirman Samity, the Inspection Reports conducted and prepared by the Audit team on behalf of the Accountant General (Audit), Assam, mention that crores of rupees have been intentionally misused/misappropriated. The financial irregularities/misuse/misappropriation took place in respect of procurement of pre-school educational kits, provision of nutritious food for children etc.

In all, the PIL states the amount involved in the irregularities is about Rs 270 crore.

The PIL contends that the basic rights of the children to have the proper education and nutrition have been hampered by such illegal acts.

As such, it requests the court to exercise writ jurisdiction and issue appropriate direction to cause a high-level enquiry into the whole matter and to take necessary penal action against the Government officials who are responsible for the implementation of that scheme.

Further, the PIL also requests the court to direct the State Government to take into account the audit reports of the Accountant General (Audit), Assam and do the needful to fix responsibilities upon the erring officials of the Social Welfare Department of Assam, and to recover the misappropriated/misused funds for proper utilization for its true purpose.

The High Court listed the PIL for its next hearing on March 22, 2022.

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