The Supreme Court on Friday summoned the Union labour Secretary for failing to disclose utilisation of a Rs27,000-crore fund meant for welfare of construction workers which is lying idle in Government coffers.
Monitoring the construction cess collected by all States towards this fund in a PIl, the bench of Justices Madan B lokur and UU lalit lost all patience as despite several opportunities being granted, Centre failed to give proposals for using the fund.
The bench sought suggestions from amicus curiae senior advocate Vivek Tankha. The cess was collected under the Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1996. The amicus curiae pointed out that Rajasthan collected Rs588.36 crore and disbursed just Rs59.45 crore, Uttar Pradesh collected Rs1,580.1 crore but disbursed Rs180.79 crore. Delhi too had collected Rs1,396.58 crore but disbursed only Rs39.37 crore. None of the States supplied details of expenditure.