Specify steps taken against erring officials and amount recovered: Gauhati High Court directs government

Misappropriation of fund under PM-KISAN

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the State Government to file an affidavit specifying the steps initiated against erring officials who were involved in embezzlment of fund under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, and also to specify the amount recovered from the ineligible beneficiaries who were wrongfully granted benefit under this scheme.

More than 9 lakh ineligible beneficiaries in Assam had allegedly availed financial aid under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The PM-KISAN is a centrally funded scheme that provides financial aid of Rs 6,000 per year to all farmer families across the country in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each in every four months. In Assam, allegations surfaced about irregularities in implementation of PM-KISAN scheme by preparing faulty list of beneficiaries. .

A Divisional Bench of Gauhati High Court comprising Justice N Kotiswar Singh and Justice Malasri Nandi, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL/73/2020) filed by Amguri Naba Nirman Samity, stated that "after perusal of the pleadings made in the PIL and considering the allegation of embezzlement of public fund meant for poor farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, made an observation on 24.03.2021 that nothing has been shown as to whether any penal action has been taken against the erring officials involved in releasing the subsidy amount to undeserving persons under the above scheme. Accordingly, the government was given time to file necessary affidavit in this regard."

The State Government had filed an affidavit on 17.03.2021 indicating the steps taken for recovery of the embezzled amount. It had been stated in the affidavit that more than Rs 17 lakh had already been recovered in respect of Jorhat, Charaideo, Golaghat and Sivasagar districts. However, in an additional affidavit filed on 20.09.2021, it was stated that as many as 9,39,146 ineligible beneficiaries had been identified who were extended the said benefit. The court observed that "the financial misappropriation would run into several crores of rupees and the amount of recovery made is pittance".

The court order stated, "We are of the opinion that considering the gravity of the offence of embezzlement of public fund meant for poor, the State Government ought to take necessary penal action." The counsel for the State Government told the court that the process of taking appropriate departmental action against certain individuals had already been initiated apart from recovery of funds and the process might take some time.

"Accordingly, let the State Government file an affidavit with regard to the steps initiated against the erring officials and also indicate the amount recovered from the undeserving persons, who were wrongfully granted the benefit under the aforesaid scheme," stated the court order.

The State Government has given three weeks' time by the court to file the affidavit.

Also Read: CLP demands CBI probe into 'PM Kisan Nidhi Scheme' anomalies

Also watch: