Refund Rs1.11-crore CAMPA money: Apex court to state

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

The Supreme Court has pulled up the Punjab Government for diverting money from Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund to pay lawyers’ fee to defend itself in a deforestation case before the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur ordered the government to refund an amount of more than Rs 1.11 crore to CAMPA Fund after Additional Solicitor General ANS Nadkarni placed in a sealed cover a document prepared by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Punjab that disclosed diversion of the funds.

“From a perusal of the document, it appears that the legal expenses particularly fees to lawyers have been paid from the CAMPA funds. The amount is to the extent of Rs.1,11,01,420. The state is directed in terms of the order passed by the MoEF to reimburse the funds within two weeks,” the Bench said in an order earlier this month.

“It is made clear that no state government can use the funds for any activity other than afforestation,” the Bench warned and posted the matter for hearing after six weeks.

The top court had, in August, frowned upon reports about the Punjab Government spending money from CAMPA Fund to pay lawyers' fee to defend a deforestation case before the NGT.

As the Bench expressed "surprise" over the reports, Additional Solicitor General Nadkarni had said the Centre would conduct an audit into the matter.

The CAMPA Fund was created under the orders of the top court on an environment-related matter which was to be used for afforestation.