Gauhati High Court: The present Public Interest Litigation (‘PIL’) was filed by the petitioner with a prayer to issue a mandamus to the respondents to cause a high-level enquiry for finding out the corrupt officials of the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission, who were involved in corruption and misappropriation of government funds allotted under the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission during the financial years 2010-2019. The Division Bench of Vijay Bishnoi, CJ., and Suman Shyam, J., disposed of the PIL while putting their hope and trust in the Principal Auditor General, Assam after his assurance that in case any irregularities were found on the part of the officials concerned, appropriate action against such officials would be sent to the department concerned.
The petitioner alleged that the officials of the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission were involved in corruption and misappropriation of the government allotted funds. It was also claimed by the petitioner that he had previously filed complaints relating to the irregularities, however, the respondent authorities had not taken any action against the erring officials.
The respondents emphasised that the Principal Auditor General, Assam, was seized of the matter and out of the 43 Audit Objections, 23 Audit Objections had already been dropped after getting satisfactory clarification/reply from the authority concerned and that in respect of the remaining Audit Objections, replies/clarifications had already been sought and after considering these replies/clarifications, those Audit Objections would be dealt with. In case any irregularities were found on the part of the officials concerned, recommendations for taking appropriate action would be sent to the department concerned.
The Court disposed of the PIL with the hope and trust that the Principal Auditor General, Assam shall decide those Audit Objections expeditiously, in accordance with law, and if any government official was found involved in the misappropriation of government funds, appropriate recommendations for taking action against such officials’ would be sent to the State Government.
[Amguri Naba Nirman Samity v. Union of India, 2024 SCC OnLine Gau 754, Order dated 05-06-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case :
For the Petitioners: Advocate A R Bhuyan
For the Respondents: Asstt. S.G.I
