CM Devendra Fadnavis to review RR Patil's security charge waiver order for Vasai NCP leader

The Bombay High Court recently directed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to decide within one month on the Rs66-lakh security charge waiver granted to an NCP leader from Vasai in September by then home minister RR Patil.

An order by a division bench of justices Abhay Oka and AS Gadkari said, "It will be open for the chief minister to take appropriate decision on the note put up by the Home Department for reconsideration of the order dated September 3. An appropriate decision on the said note shall be taken within a period of one month from today."

Patil had passed an order waiving off Govind Gunjalkar's security charges despite a July 16 HC order directing authorities to recover the amount. The NCP leader had approached the Thane Rural police seeking security in 2010, and till October 2013, he was to pay around Rs55 lakh for the cover.

The authorities continued to provide security and took no steps to recover the arrears. The petition filed by one Ashok Udayvar stated that the arrears is a loss to the general public and the public exchequer. The petition sought for directions to the authorities to take steps under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code to recover the arrears.

The bench, after going through the three affidavits placed on record, said proceed on the footing that steps are being taken to recover the arrears of security charges due and payable by Gunjalkar.

Additional government pleader Molina Thakhur said the court directed the petitioner to amend this and challenge the order passed in September, directing the state to file its reply on it.

In an earlier order, the court had directed the home ministry to issue appropriate directions to the police to ensure the recovery of charges from those who have been provided police security and have failed to pay for it.