The Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital has set Thursday as the day for hearing public interest litigations filed against the homes and other facilities provided to ex-Chief Ministers.
The PIl filed by the Rural litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RlEK) contends that the homes and various other facilities provided by the Government to former Chief Ministers amounts to misuse and wastage of public money.
The division bench comprising chief justice KM Joseph and justice VK Bist set the day for hearing in the case.
It will be recalled that earlier in August this year, the HC had issued notices to former CMs of Uttarakhand ND Tiwari, BC Khanduri, BS Koshyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Vijay Bahuguna while hearing on this PIl against provision of residential and various facilities being provided to ex-CMs of Uttarakhand.
The head of RlEK, Avdhash Kaushal had filed the PIl in 2010 in the High Court of Uttarakhand seeking withdrawal of the facilities extended to former Chief Ministers.
The petitioner contends that facilities including official residences allotted to ex-CMs who own “palatial” bungalows, staff and vehicles is illegal which the small mountain State of Uttarakhand can ill-afford.
Earlier, in April this year Kaushal had also written to the State Governor eliciting focus on the issue. He had stated that each of the ex-CMs has a residence of their own and can afford to live in it.
Kaushal had further provided detailed information about the various residences purported to be owned by the former Chief Ministers.