‘Appoint IAS officer as CEO of Sai Baba trust’

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has confirmed the Bombay high court order that directed the Maharashtra government to appoint an IAS officer as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar declined to entertain the state’s appeal challenging the HC order and sought an undertaking from the government that it shall comply with the directive by March 15.

There is an urgency to appoint an IAS officer as the centenary year celebration with a budget of nearly ₹3,000 crore is pending for sanction with the law and justice department of the state, the court was informed.

Pradnya Talekar, advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioner on whose plea the HC gave the order, pointed to several instances of mismanagement at the sansthan.

Talekar impressed upon the bench that the law followed to manage the sansthan prescribes nomination of junior officer to oversee the working of the trust.

The Supreme Court brushed aside the state’s excuse that the present strength of IAS officers was inadequate and it was not possible to nominate one as a regular CEO of the trust.

But keeping in mind the persistent flow of devotees and the multifarious functions, including construction and maintenance of guest houses, hospitals, gardens and providing facilities to the devotees that the sansthan has to discharge, the SC felt it fit to have a competent IAS officer to look after the affairs of the trust.