HC admits writ

IMPHAL, Jun 26: High Court of Manipur admitted a writ petition filed by the job card holders of Sekmaijin Gram Panchayat against Adhyaksha Kakching, Phuritsabam Jiten Singh, today. The  PIL was filed in connection with alleged misappropriation of MGNREGS funds which were meant for the construction of a public pond at Sekmaijin Mayai Leikai.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of filing the writ petition before the High Court through Advocate B Prem, social worker Sorokhaibam Bobo said that the construction of the public pond came to the people's knowledge after an MIS report sprang up.
He alleged that Phuritsabam Jiten had withdrawn Rs 10, 47,000 without constructing the pond and instead showed a fish farm owned by him as the pond to the officials of the authority concerned.
As per the available records, the funds for the construction of the public pond were sanctioned on July 6 last year, he said, and added that the writ petition was filed by him and four other job card holders of Sekmaijin GP, against Phuritsabam Jiten Singh, Adhyaksha Kakching/Member 4 of Sekmaijin Zilla Parisad,the State of Manipur represented by Commissioner (RD&PR), DC Thoubal, ADC Thoubal Program coordinator and BDO Program officer Langmeidong CD Block, as respondents.
On the other hand, the writ petition was allowed by the High Court of Manipur which also issued notice to DC Thoubal and ADC Thoubal Program Coordinator and fixed July 1 as the next date of hearing.
In the writ petition, the petitioners prayed for issuance of an order directing the respondents to recover the misused amount and to impose a penalty permissible under MGNREGS and other laws and its operational guidelines of MGNREGS 2013.
It also mentioned that the petitioners are job card holders and they have been rendering unskilled manual works for the financial year  2018-19 under MGNREGS in Langmeidong CB Block.
It was further submitted that the Kakching Adhyaksha misused the MGNREGS public fund/ money at the time of construction of the public pond at Sekmaijin Mayai Leikai and the competent authority failed to look after and monitor the work status thus violating the rules and regulations.