New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has to probe into the alleged misappropriation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) funds in Orissa.
The Centre had earlier told the Supreme Court that it is considering CBI probe into the issue but apparently had done little to address the Court's concern in last three months.
"We make it clear we are giving four weeks' time to decide. We make it clear if Centre doesn't decide we will step in", the Court said.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2007 by an NGO Centre for Environment and Food Security alleging large-scale corruption in the implementation of the NREGA scheme. The petition had pointed out that while some states in the north-eastern and Andhra Pradesh have done a good job in implementing the rural employment scheme, the others are far behind.
On December 16 last year, while hearing the PIL, the Court had indicted both the Union and the state governments for their failure in properly executing the rural job guarantee scheme and had asked them to explain as to why a CBI probe into the fund embezzlement should not be ordered.
"We are constrained to observe that the Union of India as well as the State of Orissa, prima facie, have failed to effectively and purposefully implement the provisions of the Act," the bench had observed.
"This has resulted in the deprivation of the entitled class from getting employment and receiving the allowances due to them in terms of the statutory guarantees available to them under the Act," it had said.
Orissa to abide by SC order on MGNRGA irregularities: minister
Bhubaneswar, Mar 14 (PTI) The Orissa government today said it will abide by the Supreme Court decision regarding alleged irregularities in the implementation of the rural job guarantee scheme in the state."We will accept a CBI probe or investigation by any agency if the Supreme Court wants it," said Orissa's Panchayati Raj Minister Prafulla Samal.Panchyati Raj department is the nodal agency for the implementation of the rural job scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).Claiming that the state government had taken several steps to improve the situation regarding implementation of the job scheme, Samal said besides the apex court, the state government also seeks suggestions from the public."If Supreme Court is not satisfied with our steps so far taken to improve the situation, the state government will have no hesitation to a CBI probe into the matter," Samal told reporters replying a question on the apex court's concern over the alleged misappropriation of funds under rural job scheme.Noting that the state government had appointed ombudsmen, both in district level and the state level, for proper implementation of the scheme, the minister said initial mistakes were no more found anywhere in the state.While expressing concern over the matter, the Supreme Court today indicated that it would step in if the Centre did not take any decision regarding a CBI probe. The court said this while hearing a public interest lawsuit filed in 2007 by an NGO, Centre for Environment and Food Security, alleging large-scale corruption in the implementation of the programme for rural job under MGNREGA.Reports of CAG as well as of National Institute of Rural Development show misappropriation of funds allegedly by officials and functionaries of the implementation agencies, resulting in diversion of funds, the court observed.
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