In an interesting development, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has shot off another letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav seeking early implementation of the Allahabad High Court order for CBI inquiry into misappropriation of funds for the schemes launched in the state under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Surprisingly, Ramesh has written the letter to the Chief Minister even when the Department of Personal and Training (DoPT) of the Central Government is responsible for ensuring compliance with the High Court order on the issue, and not the state Government as it has no legal powers to do so. As per the High Court direction, the state Government was only required to establish a multi-member state quality monitor at district and state levels to supervise utilisation of funds until the Centre took some permanent measures to check misappropriation of funds.
While recalling his earlier correspondence with the Chief Minister, Ramesh has in the fresh letter sent to the state Government on Tuesday, stressed the necessity for a CBI probe into misappropriation of funds of MNREGA schemes in seven districts (Balrampur, Gonda, Mahoba, Sonebhadra, Sant Kabir Nagar, Mirzapur and Kushinagar) besides a preliminary inquiry in other districts.
The Union Rural Development Minister has pointed out that in its January 31 order, the High Court has stated that a writ in the nature of mandamus was issued directing the CBI to investigate the abuse and misappropriation of fund as well as the abuse of power under the scheme with regard to seven districts from 2007 to 2010 and with appropriate action and prosecution in accordance with law.
The court had also directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry with regard to other districts of the state for the three years relating to abuse, misuse or misappropriation of fund provided by the Centre under scheme with follow-up regular inquiry, if required. It also directed the UP Government to provide all necessary assistance, including manpower, to the CBI within a month from the date of receipt of request to proceed with the investigation in compliance with the judgement.
The court also directed the state Government to consider establishment of a multi-member state quality monitor at district and state levels to supervise utilisation of funds under the scheme until the Centre framed appropriate rules, regulations or issued appropriate order keeping in view the observation made in the judgement, Ramesh mentioned in the letter.