DB directs enquiry into the multi-crore RDD scam

26/03/2017

Jammu, Mar 25: In a landmark Judgment the Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice B.S. Walia directed the Minister of Rural Development Department (Chairman State Employment Council); the Secretary RDD New Delhi; Chairman Central Employment Guarantee Council New Delhi; Director MGNREGA; Commissioner Secretary /Director Rural Development Department and Director Social Audit (MGNREGA) to conduct a time bound preliminary enquiry in the multi-crore scam of MGNREGA in five blocks of District Doda i.e, Gandoh, Changa, Kahara, Jakyas and Chilli and take decision and remedial measures in order to ensure the implementation of MGNREG, Act, Rules and Scheme and also take action for the violations in accordance with law. The respondents have been directed to complete the enquiry within four months and submit the report before the Registrar Judicial, who would place the same before appropriate Bench for orders.
The inhabitants of aforesaid five blocks filed the Public Interest Litigation through Farooq Ahmed Dar, President Labour Party and others which was argued by Sheikh Altaf Hussain Advocate while arguing the matter Mr. Altaf stated that huge numbers of job cards have been issued in violation of Scheduled-II of MGNREG Act. The BDOs with the active connivance of Panchayat Secretaries and Sarpanches have issued multiple job cards to various members of the same household(s). Even large numbers of job cards have been issued to the government employees, sarpanches, panches, pensioners, students, contractors etc. who are not eligible under the Act. Even corers of rupees have been shown released for various works not existing on the ground. Mr. Altaf further submitted that 40% of the cost component released by the Government for the material and wages to skilled and semi-skilled workers have infact been embezzled and the job cards holders were asked to collect material i.e, stone, bajri and sand and execute all the works by employing skilled and semi-skilled workers on their own. It is contended that as per the information uploaded by the department on the website more than 15 crore of rupees have been shown released for the material component and payment of wages which infact have been shared by all concerned. Mr. Altaf further submitted that huge number of vendors, family members, close relatives and blue-eyed person of the BDOs, Panchayat Secretaries, A.E.Es, J.Es, GRSs, Sarpanches, etc have been shown in the record just to usurp the state exchequer and share the booty. It is contended that as per the information provided under the RTI Act, Rs. 205.52 lacs and 56.03 lacs have been released in Block Bhalessa & Gandoh for the year 2010-2011 and Rs. 176.39 lacs and 191.37 lacs for the year 2012-2013. Likewise there has been loot and plunder in other blocks as well.
It is further contended that the inhabitants of the area have filed a detailed complaint to SSP Doda and higher authorities of MGNREGA but their voice has been muzzled by using brutal force. Ultimately the inhabitants were constrained to knock the doors of the High Court by filling the PIL. The Court after hearing the counsel of the petitioners Sheikh Altaf Hussain disposed of the PIL by directing the respondents to conduct the enquiry into the allegation levelled in the petition within four months and submit the compliance report before the court for judicial scrutiny. JNF

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