PUNJAB YET TO SUBMIT REPORT SOUGHT IN AUGUST: CENTRE TO HC

The Centre on Wednesday told Punjab and Haryana high court that a report on alleged misappropriation of funds meant for postmatric scholarship in Punjab is yet to be submitted by Punjab government.

Additional solicitor general of India Satya Pal Jain informed the high court bench of justice Jitendra Chauhan and justice Vivek Puri that the ministry of social justice and empowerment had written to Punjab on August 31 seeking a report, however, the state government is yet to respond.

The submissions were made during resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into postmatric scholarship scam reported in Punjab.

The plea was filed by Satbir Singh Walia, a Chandigarh resident in September. The high court bench, while adjourning the matter for May 17 has issued notice of motion on the plea to Centre, Punjab and CBI. The plea questions role of Punjab social justice and empowerment minister, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in disbursal of funds and seeks to make him a party. The Centre-sponsored scheme is aimed at giving scholarship to meritorious students belonging to economically weaker sections to give them better opportunities for higher education.

The PIL had demanded transfer of probe to CBI and registration of FIRS against the officials’ responsible for the embezzlement. Despite there being reports on embezzlement three years ago no action has been taken against anyone to date, the petitioner had alleged adding that the report made by the additional chief secretary, Kirpa Shankar Saroj, prima facie establishes the scam and points to involvement of high level officials, but proper probe is not being conducted.