Probe into fraudulent payment by MDS demanded
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 04, 2012:
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench has prayed for investigation into alleged fraudulent payment of Rs 2.74 crore by Manipur Development Society (MDS) for construction of two Districtict Sports Complexes at Kodomokpi and Kakching under Thoubal Districtict.
The petition against the Secretary, Union Home Affairs; Secretary, Planning Commission; Chief Secretary, Govt of Manipur; Additional Chief Secretary, Tribal Affairs and Hills; Health Commissioner; Special Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS); Director, YAS; Director, TA & Hills; Director, Planning; Health Director; Chairman/Secretary of MDS and Project Director of MDS was filed jointly by W Shinglai of Kasom Khullen, Ukhrul and Thangkholun Haokip of Chakpi Molbem, Chandel.
After hearing the petition, a Division Bench of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench comprising Justice T Vaiphei and Justice T Nandakumar on July 31 passed an interim order staying the order of the Health Department dated May 16, 2011 and August 3, 2011 regarding the construction of eight Scheduled Tribe Girls' Hostel and seven Tribal Markets at different tribal inhabited areas of the state.
The court order also instructed the counsels of Central and State governments to obtain their respective instructions and place the same before the Court on August 14. The PIL, which was filed with Advocate Maibam Hemchandra as counsel of the petitioner, contended that the Planning Department under its Audit Report for the year ended on March 31, 2010 revealed that MDS made fraudulent payment of Rs 2.74 crore to a contractor for supplying of building materials based on fictitious records for construction of two Districtict Sports Complexes in Thoubal Districtict.
The government instead of investigating into the matter keeps entrusting several works of various departments for infrastructural development under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) to MDS.
Objectives under the Memorandum of Association of MDS are employment oriented development by executing schemes under Minor Irrigation, Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Handloom production and Light Industries.
Besides, MDS has no qualified and well experience staff, strength of engineering staffs, equipment capability like Trucks (vehicles) Bulldozers (Earth Excavators), procurement of construction materials, store room and moreover the said society is running in a rented building, the PIL pointed out.
According to Manipur State Advertisement Policy, 1994, all advertisement of the government, semi government sponsored orgainsations and local bodies, corporations; public undertakings shall have to be released only through DIPR.
However, the works awarded to MDS have never invited tender/bids as per the policy, the PIL stated.
While noting that some high profile officials of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games held at New Delhi were arrested by CBI in connection with CWG scam on charge of cheating, conspiracy and corruption and the Supreme Court ordered the central government to cancel 122 cell phone licenses granted to companies during an irregular sale of spectrum commonly known as 2G scam, the PIL further stated that similar actions should be awarded against the MDS officials who have embezzled public money.