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The Government on Monday informed the Supreme Court about its move to order a CBI investigation into the alleged corruption, including misappropriation of funds, and other irregularities in the rural job guarantee scheme in Orissa.
The Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Ms Indira Jaising, told the apex court that the Government's consent for a CBI probe into the matter has been given by the Rural Development Ministry. The Government also said it would shortly issue a notification regarding the CBI probe.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an NGO, the Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS).
On March 14, the apex court had granted the Centre four weeks to take a decision on a CBI investigation into the charges of misappropriation of funds and irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Orissa. The court, however, had then warned that it would step in if the Centre fails to decide on the matter within the given time.
Advocate Mr Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO, sought the court's directions to the CBI for registering an FIR in the matter. The court then, however, directed the Centre to issue within a fortnight a notification for the CBI investigation.
Earlier, the ASG submitted before the court the Rural Development Ministry's recent letter to the CBI on the Government's decision to refer the Orissa case to the CBI. The letter asks the CBI to accord priority to the matter and cause to initiate criminal proceedings against the delinquent officials under the relevant laws.
Meanwhile, the Court asked the Orissa Government to file an affidavit stating as to what extent it has implemented the Centre's guidelines on the scheme. The court said on the next date of hearing it would take up the fund diversion charges in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
The court had on December 16, 2010 issued show-cause notices to the Centre and the Orissa Government, asking them as to why a CBI investigation should not be ordered into the functioning and implementation of MGNREGS in that State, the CEFS pointed out in an affidavit filed before the apex court.
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