Vinod Singh v. The State Of Bihar
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.17978 of 2023 ====================================================== Vinod Singh Son of Kameshwar Singh, Resident of Village Dakra, (Sat Ghat), P.S.-Ramgardh Chowk, District- Lakhisarai.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1.
The State of Bihar Through the Chief Secretary Government of Bihar. 2.
The Chief Secretary Government of Bihar, Patna 3.
The Principal Secretary Gramin Vikash Vibhag (Rural Development Department) Government Bihar, Patna.
4.
The District Magistrate, District- Lakhisrai. 5.
The District Deputy Development Commissioner District- Lakhisarai. 6.
The MANREGA Commissioner, District- Munger.
7.
The Divisional Commissioner Munger Division Munger. 8.
The Block Development officer Ramgardh Chowk District- Lakhisarai. 9.
The Block Programme Officer M.A.N. R.E.G.A. Block Ramgardh Chowk District- Lakhisarai.
10.
The District Panchayat Raj Officer, District-Lakhisarai. 11.
The Monitoring Officer, Bihar Panchayat Raja Vibhag, Patna, Bihar. 12.
Rajeev Kumar, Mukhiya Gram Panchayat Raj Ore, Block Ramgarh Chowk, District- Lakhisarai.
... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s :
Mr. Suresh Singh, Advocate For the Respondent/s :
Mr. Anirban Kundu, S.C.-24 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE and HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY ORAL JUDGMENT (Per: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY) Date : 12-01-2024 Heard the parties.
2. The present Public Interest Litigation has been preferred by the petitioner for enquiry into the financial irregularity committed in Ore Panchayat in the Ramgadh Chowk Block in the District of Lakhisarai under MANREGA Scheme
Patna High Court CWJC No.17978 of 2023 dt.12-01-2024 2/3 for the financial year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 for which; it is alleged, they have drawn money without the work having been performed.
3. The petitioner claims that Rs. 214.51 lakhs have been spent under MANREGA Scheme for the year 202223 while even for the year 2023-24, the total amount of Rs. 463.74 lakhs amount having been withdrawn allegedly showing work by the officials including the 'Mukhiya', the Panchayat Rojgar Sewak, the Block Programme Officer as also the Technical Officer. None of these officers, except the 'Mukhiya' has been impleaded in their personal capacity in the writ petition; which is necessary in the nature of the allegations raised.
4. The petitioner alleges that no work has been performed in the said Gram Panchayat Ore and he has the document to prove the same.
5. This Court fails to understand why the petitioner has approached the Patna High Court under Public Interest Litigation for a direction upon the concerned authority to act against the officials in the Gram Panchayat Ore for the embezzlement of amount.
6. The State is fully equipped to check the
Patna High Court CWJC No.17978 of 2023 dt.12-01-2024 3/3 said irregularity and take the concerned officials under its net. In other words, the State Vigilance Department is fully functional, any person armed with documents can approach the Department alongwith its affidavit and the machinery will automatically start rolling.
7. Instead with ulterior motives, the Public Interest Litigation is/are being filed. We see no reason to pass any order and to make comment on the claim so made.
8. The writ petition stands dismissed.
(K. Vinod Chandran, CJ) ( Rajiv Roy, J) Neha/- AFR/NAFR CAV DATE Uploading Date 16.01.2024 Transmission Date