Dustbins purchased at 10 times the actual cost

S Shyam Prasad | NT

Bengaluru: The High Court has refused to quash a Lokayukta case against an officer of the Town Municipal Council who purchased dustbins for the office at ten times the actual price.

“The allegations prima facie demonstrate clear case of corrupt practice and misappropriation of funds of the public exchequer,” a division bench of Justice G Narendar and Justice CM Poonacha said in their judgment dismissing the petition filed by I Basavaraj, the chief officer, Town Municipal Council, Channagiri, Davanagere.

Basavaraj had approached the HC with the petition in 2020 seeking to quash the re por t filed against him by the Upa Lokayukta on October 10, 2018.

The report rendered a preliminary finding regarding the commission of certain acts which amounted to misconduct. The Government had subsequently issued an order entrusting the enquiry to the Lokayukta.

The allegations against Basavaraj, the HC noted “are that in respect of Dust Bin items, which are available in the market at the rate of Rs.20/- to Rs.30/-, the same has been purchased at the cost of Rs.203/- and in respect of items which costs anywhere between Rs.300/- to Rs.400/-, has been purchased at Rs.3,100.”

The HC said that there was no reason to interfere in the case.

“On perusal of Annexure-B, it is seen that the competent authority has applied its mind to the facts. In that view of the matter, we do not find any good ground which warrants interference and grant of relief to the petitioner. Accordingly, the petition being devoid of merits stands rejected.”

However, the HC said that its observations rejecting the petition are not a pronouncement on the merits of the case.

“It is made clear that the observations made hereinabove are for the purpose of disposal of the writ petition only and all defences are left open to be raised by the petitioner in the enquiry and the observations made hereinabove shall not be construed as a pronouncement on the merits of the matter,” the Court concluded. (WP 7578/2020)