The Bombay high court on Friday warned the state government of initiating contempt of court action against the chief secretary and principal secretary of the state finance department for failing to abide by its earlier order on disbursement of funds for providing toilets and water coolers in courts across the state.
The Bombay high court on Friday warned the state government of initiating contempt of court action against the chief secretary and principal secretary of the state finance department for failing to abide by its earlier order on disbursement of funds for providing toilets and water coolers in courts across the state.
A division bench of justices AS Oka and AP Bhangale was hearing a PIL filed by Litigants Association of Maharashtra, claiming lack of basic facilities in several courts.
Last August, after court orders, the government had sanctioned Rs5.38 crore for providing toilets, water coolers and purifiers, and benches for litigants in courts. However, the amount was released only on March 2 this year.
The court was informed that if the amount is not handed over to the HC administration, which will then deposit it in the account of the Public Works Department by the end of the financial year (March 31), it would lapse.
The bench had on March 24 directed the government to release the funds to the administration and ensure that it does not lapse. However, it was told that the government had released Rs9.60 crore on the night of March 31.
"The amount lapsed the next day (April 1)," advocate SR Nargolkar, appearing for the administration, said.
Irked with the government's approach, the bench observed, "If this is the state of affairs, we would be compelled to summon the principal secretary (finance) to court. It is a clear case of breach of our previous order. Unless this is rectified, we will pass contempt order against the chief secretary of the government and the principal secretary of the finance department. We will take the case to its logical end."
Posting the matter for further hearing on April 21, the court asked the government to initiate remedial measures and directed advocate general Sunil Manohar to appear before it during the next hearing.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}