The Gauhati High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed essentially raising a concern that there is rampant corruption in implementation of the Central Government funded schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishak Sinchayee Yojana – Per Drop More Crop (PMKSY-PDMC).
It is the case of the petitioner that though in respect of the corruption activities in which the Government officials and the private entities are involved, he has already approached the Chief Minister of Assam and to the Superintendent of Police, Chief Minister’s Vigilance Cell as well as the Officer-in-Charge of Mayong Police Station by submitting an application for registration of F.I.R., but nothing has been done by the respondent Government.
Therefore, a writ be issued to the respondents to initiate proceedings against the corrupt officials as well as other persons involved in corruption in implementation of the above referred schemes , the Petitioner prayed.
Having heard the petitioner appearing in person and after going through the materials available on record, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam is of the view that if the petitioner is complaining about commission of a cognizable offence and his attempt to register an F.I.R. With the police having not fructified, it is always open for the petitioner to file an appropriate complaint before the concerned Judicial Magistrate as per the provisions of Section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C.
So far as regarding the allegations levelled by the petitioner in the petition, the Court is of the firm view that this Court is not equipped for conducting an enquiry into the allegations regarding corruption in the Government schemes and the proper course of action for the petitioner is to approach the Criminal Court for registration of a criminal case regarding the commission of a cognizable offence.