Home / Crime and Justice / Court Summons DC Over MGNREGA Fund Probe
Court Summons DC Over MGNREGA Fund Probe
12 Oct
Summary
- Court demands DC appearance on October 15 regarding fund probe.
- Lokpal report indicated fund diversion; no action for years.
- FIR registered late against one individual, not implicated officials.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the Rohtak deputy commissioner (DC) to appear in person on October 15, accompanied by all relevant records. This directive stems from alleged inaction regarding officials implicated in a probe into the misappropriation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds.
The case originated from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ram Chander, who highlighted the MGNREGA Lokpal's 2023 report. This report detailed findings of fund diversion and recommended an FIR, yet no action was reportedly taken for over three years.
An affidavit submitted by the DC indicated that a complaint was referred to the MGNREGA ombudsman in March 2023. The ombudsman directed an FIR against block-level officials, but a subsequent inquiry by a sub-divisional officer provided a clean chit to these authorities.
The court noted that an FIR was only registered in September 2026 against a single mate at Gram Panchayat Samchana. Crucially, the officers specifically named in the Lokpal's report had not been prosecuted, leading the court to observe a "lack of application of mind" in the DC's affidavit, which appeared to rely on the same officer who gave the clean chit.
Expressing concern, the court urged the state to sensitize its officers to handle financial misappropriation allegations with greater seriousness and promptness. It warned that failure to satisfy the court with proposed actions might lead to the matter being referred to an independent investigative agency.
