HC directs Fertiliser Secretary to appear on September 11

Patna, Aug 31 (UNI) Patna High Court today directed the Union Chemical and Fertiliser Secretary to appear before it in connection with fertliser subsidy scam on September 11.

A division bench of Justice Narain Rai and Justice M K Jha issued the directive during hearing of a public interest petition filed in this connection.

The counsel of the petitioner alleged that Rs 500 crore, meant for providing subsidy to the farmers, were swindled by the officers of the Bihar and Central governments in connivance with the manufacturers and suppliers of fertiliser during 1994-98.

The counsel pointed out that despite the court directive, the CBI had not initiated the inquiry into the scam as yet.

When faced the poser from the bench in this regard, the counsel of the Central government submitted that the CBI could not initiate the inquiry into the matter as the Union government had not issued the necessary notification so far.

After that, the court directed the Union Fertiliser Secretary to appear before it on September 11 and explain the failure of the compliance of the court order in this connection.

The court also directed the Fertiliser Secretary to come with the notification if it was issued during the intervening period.

UNI