Guwahati, June 13: The Gauhati High Court has disposed of a writ petition that prayed for a high-level inquiry into allegations of corruption and misappropriation of government funds allotted under the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission during the financial years 2010-2019.
The High Court, on the other hand, observed that the Principal Auditor General (Audit), Assam would decide the concerned audit objections expeditiously.
“…We deem it appropriate to dispose of the writ petition with the hope and trust that the Principal Auditor General (Audit), Assam shall decide those audit objections expeditiously, in accordance with law, and if any government official is found involved in the misappropriation of government funds made available under the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission, appropriate recommendations for taking action against such officials will be sent to the state government,” a division of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam stated while hearing the PIL.
The petitioner had relied upon the audit reports of the Accountant General to substantiate his claim that the officials of the Assam Sarba Siksha Abhiyan Mission were involved in corruption and misappropriation of the government-allotted funds.
In respect of the alleged irregularities, the petitioner claimed he had already filed complaints on August 30, 2019 and February 2, 2021 even as the respondent authorities have not taken any action against the erring officials.
Counter affidavits have been filed on behalf of the respondents, wherein it was emphasised that the Principal Auditor General (Audit), Assam, was seized of the matter and out of the 43 audit objections, 23 have already been dropped after getting satisfactory clarification/reply from the concerned authority.
It was further stated that in respect of the remaining audit objections, replies/clarifications have already been sought, and after considering such replies/clarifications, those audit objections would be dealt with.
The Court took into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case and, more particularly, the statement of the respondents in the affidavit-in-opposition, and subsequently disposed of the PIL.