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| Payment made without construction of school building | | HC directs VOJ to submit status report | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Dec 7
Justice Nirmal Singh of J&K High Court Jammu Wing in a petition filed by Ghulam Hussain Mir a Village Level Worker, Gandoh Block, has directed the Vigilance Authority to submit status report with regard to the investigation within three weeks
According to the petition that Vigilance Organization has received a written complaint that the contractor Bal Krishan Pathania in connivance with the officers/officials of rural development dept Doda caused undue loss of Rs 4 lakhs in construction school building at Seru Khaljugasar District Doda and the contractor had left the construction of the said school building incomplete. Upon this complaint, VO conducted surprise check in the month of March/April 2007. Scrutiny of the record revealed that in the year 2001, in block Gandoh a work of construction of school building Seru Khaljugasar was allotted to Bal Krishan Pathania at an estimated cost Rs 4.25 lakhs sanctioned under NABARD scheme. The said contractor raised construction of four room school building up to roof level except plastering, flooring and fixing of doors and windows. The roof of the building was covered with GCI sheets issued by the Department. During spot inspection the VO has found that the said school building exists no more as it was learnt that it had collapsed in the year 2003 due to use of sub-standard material in the construction and unfavorable whether conditions.
Adv Nirmal Kotwal appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has been made a scapegoat and the officers/officials responsible have been left out. He further submitted that Vigilance Organization on receipt of the complaint should have registered a case and held investigation so that truth may come out and to know who was responsible for misappropriation of funds, whether the petitioner is responsible or the high officials. The counsel for the petitioner further submitted that this is not an isolated case where the funds have been misappropriated and high-ups in the dept have misappropriate the amount not in lakhs but in crores.
Justice Nirmal Singh while directing the Vigilance Organization for submitting status-report observed that before considering the submissions of the counsel for the petitioner with regard to the impugned memorandum dated September 24, 2007, it will be appropriate to call the status-report of the investigation conducted by the Vigilance Organization as the matter prima-facie found to be very serious because it reveals that the said contractor has not constructed any school building at the spot even though the payment of huge amount has been made to the contractor without work. Court directed VO to submit status report with regard to the investigation within three weeks besides a report with regard to the other works allotted in this block (Gandoh Block) which have not been completed and the payment has been made. JNF |
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