The Delhi high court on Wednesday directed Delhi commissioner of police Y.S. Dadwal to conduct an independent probe into the MCD’s “ghost” employees scam and submit the report in two months.
A division bench comprising Delhi high court Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur directed the police commissioner to hold a detailed inquiry into the allegations that the civic agency has certain employees in its payroll but do not exist in paper and submit a detailed report in two months.
The court’s direction came after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO Jagrook Welfare Society seeking a CBI inquiry or an probe by an independent agency into the scam.
C.S. Parashar, lawyer appearing for the NGO, submitted before the court that a complaint was lodged with the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of the Delhi police, but so far no FIR has been registered.
Apart from the CBI inquiry, the petitioner NGO has also sought the direction of the court for initiation of departmental inquiry against the guilty officers of the MCD for their alleged involvement in the scam.
After a media report in November last year, the MCD revealed that there were 22,853 gardeners and sweepers as “ghost employees” on its payrolls and admitted that it was an administrative lapse that cost the civic body Rs 17 crores every month.
The court has earlier criticised the MCD on May 12 for “concealing facts” in its affidavit on money paid to “ghost employees”.
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‘Register all labourers for Games’
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
May 26: The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked the Delhi government and various other civic bodies to identify and register all labourers working in the sports biggest extravaganza, Commonwealth Games projects, and ensure that they should not be deprived of their basic rights.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Madan B. Lokur directed the agencies to provide the labourers the passbooks/identity cards and ensure that the minimum wages are paid.
The court issued directives to the MCD, DDA, Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the Delhi International Airport Ltd.