By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 12 Dec: The Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Ramesh Chandra Khulbe of the High Court of Uttarakhand on 12-12-2018 heard a Public Interest Litigation, {Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) vs. State of Uttarakhand PIL no. 90 of 2010}.
Petitioner RLEK has filed an application in court for the recovery of about Thirteen Crore Thirty- three Lac Forty Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Rupees from the ex-Chief Ministers. This amount has been given to the court on the basis of RTI replies taken from various government departments. Second application has been filed by the petitioner praying the court to stop the vehicle facilities to ex chief ministers in Delhi. Court has given four weeks’ time to the counsels of the ex-chief ministers to reply on the applications filed by the petitioner.
Kartikey Hari Gupta, Advocate for the petitioner RLEK pointed out that the state government has not done market rent calculation in accordance with the previous order of the court, which ordained that market rent be calculated and presented before the Court. On this Hon’ble Court has directed the Advocate General who was appearing for the State that order dated 16-02-2017 must be complied and further directed to calculate the market rent of the bungalows in which the ex-chief ministers have stayed and present it before the court before the next date of hearing.
Hon’ble Court has taken note of the fact that whatever amount has been paid by the three ex chief minsters it is on the basis of meager amount of 1000/- or 1200/- per month and it will examine its adequacy at the time of hearing of the petition.
Court has directed the matter to be listed immediately after winter vacation for hearing.
Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson after the hearing said, “The amount of more than rupees 13 crores is based on the RTIs. This shows a high level of corruption prevalent in our system.”