Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Four weeks for Centre to clarify stand on CBI probe into ‘misuse' of MGNREGA funds: court by J Venkatesan

Four weeks for Centre to clarify stand on CBI probe into ‘misuse' of MGNREGA funds: court by J Venkatesan

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Mar 14, 2011   modified Modified on Mar 14, 2011
The Supreme Court on Monday granted four weeks to the Centre to take a clear stand regarding a CBI probe into alleged misuse of funds allocated to the States.

The court was dealing with a petition alleging misappropriation of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Orissa.

In an interim order on the writ petition filed by the Centre for Environment and Food Security, a three-Judge Bench, comprising Chief Justice (CJI) S.H. Kapadia, Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar, said the implementation of the MGNREGA was the core issue in the petition.

The petitioner sought the implementation of the guidelines issued by the Centre under Section 27 of the MGNREGA. The Bench, after hearing counsel Prashant Bhushan for the petitioner, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising for the Centre and senior counsel K.K. Venugopal for the Orissa government, said that reports from the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and the National Institute of Rural Development cited misappropriation of funds allegedly by officials of the implementing agencies which had resulted in a diversion of the funds collected from taxpayers.

The Bench said the Union of India had admitted to the leakage of funds in some States. In the case of Orissa, “we find misappropriation of funds targeted to deprive people of scarce resources and impede the payment of their dues. If what is stated in these reports is true, than serious action needs to be taken to prevent misappropriation of the funds meant for the MGNREGA.”

Mr. Venugopal submitted that an accounts transfer system was being implemented in Orissa to make payments to the beneficiaries directly to the bank.

The State, he said, had given directions for the preparation of a muster roll (labour attendance register) of the beneficiaries of each work, based on the receipt of the work application.

During the hearing, the CJI made it clear to the States that “though the Central government has given guidelines, we are asking the States to do three things — keep records of muster rolls; applications received for work, and the money transferred to banks for payment to beneficiaries. Our order is based on Section 27 of the MGNREGA.

The Bench noted that the ASG had sought four weeks' time, stating that the Centre was pondering its stand whether the CBI was to be entrusted with the investigation .

The Hindu, 15 March, 2011, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1538046.ece


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close