HC directs to investigate all complaints regarding SRA

Mumbai, Mar 7 (UNI) Keeping aside proposal of the Maharashtra government to handover some of the cases of alleged frauds and irregularities in several Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes in the metropolis to a retired Additional Chief Secretary of the state for scrutiny, the Bombay High Court today directed the police and anti corruption department to undertake speedy investigation into all the complaints regarding SRA schemes.

While passing orders on a petition filed by Shailesh Gandhi and an NGO Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice J N Patel and Justice S C Dharmadhikari observed that the proposal of state government to examine 10 cases out of 89, by a retired IAS officer, will not serve purpose and public interest.

The court also directed the state government to handover all the complaints to acting Principal Secretary of the concerned department for scrutiny as per a 1972 circular of Home Department which protects government officials from baseless complaints.

The state shall nominate in service senior officer not below the rank of Principal Secretary of concerned department and put all 89 complaints before him.

The court observed that, the cases where FIRs have been lodged, concerned police stations or the anti corruption department shall proceed in accordance with law.

In other complaints where preliminary investigation will be undertaken, the court directed the police to register first information report (FIR) wherever congnisable offence is disclosed.

UNI