P.Kannan v. The Lieutenant Governor And ORS.

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] *** WPA(P)/82/2020 P.Kannan Vs.

The Lieutenant Governor and others Mr. KMB Jayapal ... for the petitioner Mr. Shatadru Chakraborty Mr. Dibesh Dwivedi ... for the Administration Ms. Anjili Nag ... for the CAG October 1, 2024 [SR] Item no. 5 This is a Public Interest Litigation wherein the petitioner has alleged on the basis of an Inspection Report that serious defalcation of funds have taken place by the senior officials of the administration at the Directorate of Social Welfare, Port Blair.

It is alleged that there are diverse irregularities in payment of old-age pension, mis-utilisation of funds sanctioned for Panchayats and Anganwadis, irregularities in payment of destitute allowance and irregularities in release of grant-in-aid to the Border Area Projects which have been found in such Audit Report. A copy of the report is also annexed to the writ petition.

Pursuant to different orders of Court, the CAG had been duly served. It is submitted on behalf of the CAG that all documents have been received by them and a thorough investigation and audit is being conducted. However, this exercise would take at least three months.

In view of the submissions made on behalf of the CAG, WPA(P)/82/2020 stands disposed of by directing the learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the CAG to inform the Advocate for the petitioner of the conclusion of the entire exercise undertaken by the CAG and any steps taken pursuant thereto. This communication should be made positively by 31 December, 2024.

Liberty is granted to petitioner to file an appropriate proceeding in view of the proposed communication. It is made clear that the Court has not gone into the merits of any of the allegations made in this Public Interest Litigation and there is no finding which would bind any of the parties in any future proceeding insofar as the merits of the case are concerned.

( Ravi Krishan Kapur,J. ) ( Prasenjit Biswas, J. )