State seeks more time to file reply

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Thursday sought second adjournment from the Punjab and Haryana high court in the Raxil fungicide purchase case from a German company during the tenure of former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

During the hearing on Thursday, the state government sought more time to file replies on the directions of HC, wherein the state was asked to clear its stand on fungicide purchase. Earlier in March, the government had sought a month’s time from the HC to clear its stand on the fungicide purchase.

Following the submissions, the HC gave more time to the state government and fixed next hearing for July 14.

The HC was hearing a PIL seeking a CBI probe into an alleged scam in purchase of a fungicide ‘RAXIL 2DS’.

Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka had also alleged that the fungicide was not the cure for treating a wheat seed disease for which it was bought for ` 60 crore and then further given to the farmers of the state on 100% subsidy.

The fungicide was bought by government for treat-ment of wheat seed including ‘ Karnal Bunt’ disease allegedly in violation of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

The state agriculture minister, Om Prakash Dhankar has recently recommended a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission ( CVC) into the fungicide purchase case.

HEARING A PIL SEEKING A CBI PROBE IN THE SCAM, THE HIGH COURT GAVE MORE TIME TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND FIXED NEXT DATE OF HEARING FOR JULY 14