Jharkhand High Court on Thursday directed the State Government to file an affidavit in next two weeks to explain as to under which rule of Motor Vehicle Act the Government allowed elected representatives to put name plates on their private vehicles.
The double bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujeet Narayan Prasad gave this direction, while hearing a PIL filed by Gazala Tanveer.
Notably, in 2017 the Narendra Modi Government banned the use of name plates and beacon lights in the public and private vehicles of officials, ministers, public representatives and others.
But, later on the Jharkhand government issued a notification to allow public representatives to put name plates on their private vehicles.
During the hearing the Government told the court that in the light of Supreme Court order the notification was issued to put nameplate and track guard on vehicles.
However, in the Government notification no such exemption was given to judicial officials and judges of Jharkhand High court. The court wanted to know why this privilege was extended only to public representatives.
The petitioner represented by the lawyer Faisal Allam said the State Government arbitrarily issued notification and now political workers and leaders of political parties are misusing it.
In another development the High Court directed the office of the Accountant General as well as Jharkhand Government to file an affidavit in two-week time to explain how T-shirt and toffee worth over crorers were purchased without tender by the government on occasion of 17th Foundation Day of Jharkhand.
A PIL was filed before the court demanding CBI/ACB inquiry into procurement of T-shirt and toffee.
The lawyer appearing on behalf of the office of Accountant General informed the court that there is a provision under financial rule section 245 under which the Government can make procurement through nomination basis in a special emergency case.
The court on this said the Government should have shown similar urgency in procuring medical equipment.