'Misconduct' in Chaudhary Devi Lal Dairy Scheme: High Court orders speedy conclusion of seven-year-old Vigilance probe

Saurabh Malik

Chandigarh, January 23

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the prompt conclusion of long-pending vigilance proceedings regarding the alleged misconduct in the implementation of the Chaudhary Devi Lal Dairy Scheme. The direction came as Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj of the High Court expressed concern over the seven-year delay in concluding the proceedings and underscored the need to prevent ineligible individuals from benefiting at the expense of those truly entitled to the scheme’s benefits.

Inquiry was made way back in 2016

Advertisement

This court has noticed that the reference to the Vigilance Department about the inquiry was made way back in 2016 and that a period of nearly seven years has elapsed even thereafter. However, the inquiry proceedings have not been concluded by the Vigilance Department. Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj

The plot allotment scheme, aimed at promoting the welfare of eligible beneficiaries, was marred by allegations of misconduct by the officials as well as the beneficiaries. Faridabad MC Commissioner noticed various irregularities in the allotments. An inquiry was initially ordered to be conducted by the Faridabad Additional Deputy Commissioner vide order dated October 8, 2015. But it could not be concluded.

The inquiry was then referred to the Vigilance Department vide order dated March 18, 2016. But the vigilance inquiry, too, remained pending. Justice Bhardwaj’s Bench, during the course of hearing, was told that the state government, vide a memo dated January 12, 1995, had approved the scheme at Baselwa village on the Faridabad Municipal Corporation’s land measuring 4.5 acres, consisting of 50 plots, for shifting the dairies operating in the residential areas of the old Faridabad zone to the outskirts to avoid foul smell, sewage and lack of cleanliness.

Justice Bhardwaj asserted: “This court has noticed that the reference to the Vigilance Department about the inquiry was made way back in 2016 and that a period of nearly seven years has elapsed even thereafter. However, the inquiry proceedings have not been concluded by the Vigilance Department.”

Justice Bhardwaj also directed the forwarding of the order’s copy to the Director-General, State Vigilance Bureau, for ensuring an expeditious conclusion of the pending vigilance proceedings against the misconduct of the officials as well as the beneficiaries of wrongful allotment under the scheme “so that the ineligible persons do not take the benefits away from the eligible persons, for whose welfare such scheme had been notified”.

Before parting with the order, Justice Bhardwaj also made it clear that the respondent-authorities were expected to take appropriate and requisite action in the matter in accordance with the law against the violators, including the beneficiaries.