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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Allahabad high court orders CBI probe into NREGA anomalies in UP

Allahabad high court orders CBI probe into NREGA anomalies in UP

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published Published on Feb 1, 2014   modified Modified on Feb 1, 2014
-The Times of India


LUCKNOW: A Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court on Friday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into allegations of financial irregularities in MGNREGS in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh. Expressing displeasure over corruption in the scheme's implementation, the bench also directed the agency to hold preliminary inquiry into use of MGNREGS funds in other districts of the state.

The court said the agency should conduct regular inquiry if it finds evidence of corruption in other districts during preliminary probe. The court directed for submission of the probe's progress report in seven districts after every three months.

The seven districts under the scanner are Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Kushinagar. The agency has been told to probe anomalies between 2007-10 when the state was under BSP rule.

It also asked the state government to establish multi-member state quality monitor at district and state levels to supervise utilisation of fund under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) till the Central government frames rules to check misuse of funds.

The court order came on a petition filed by a city-based journalist Sachidanand Anand. Passing the order, a division bench of Justice Devi Prasad Singh and Justice Ashok Pal Singh pulled up the Centre for not ordering the CBI inquiry into anomalies and instead asking the state government to take a call on it.

The court observed: "Material on record prima facie reveals startling facts with regard to misappropriation of fund allocated under MGNREGA right from lowest echelon of the elected representatives, i.e, pradhans, gram sabha members to the higher bureaucracy in a well netted collusive manner."

It also directed the state government to provide all assistance to CBI, including manpower, within a month for the investigation. The high court has sent the copy of the order to UP chief secretary, principal secretary home, Union law secretary and CBI director for compliance and action as per its direction.

The funds were released to seven districts between 2007-10. The biggest financial fraud to the tune of Rs 250 crore was found in Sonbhadra in construction of check dams. After warning from the Centre, then Mayawati government conducted inquiries and found that funds were embezzled. But instead of taking action against senior officers like CDOs, BDOs, programme directors, the government only acted against 50-odd junior level officers.

In 2011, Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh twice asked then chief minister Mayawati to order CBI probe but she rejected it saying a state government inquiry was underway.

After coming to power, the Samajwadi Party reopened Economic Offence Wing (EOW) inquiry in MGNREGS anomalies in seven districts.

In October 2013, Akhilesh Yadav also turned down the Centre's demand for CBI inquiry. In December, EOW submitted its preliminary report into NREGS anomalies in Mirzapur. The report indicted then DM and CDO of Mirzapur and recommended action against them.


The Times of India, 1 February, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Allahabad-high-court-orders-CBI-probe-into-NREGA-anomalies-in-UP/articleshow/29679855.cms


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