HC notice to Punjab Govt

BICYCLES UNDER MAI BHAGO VIDYA SCHEME

Chandigarh, January 19
Punjab has paddled towards a controversy. The purchase of around 1.5 lakh bicycles by the State of Punjab allegedly at higher than the market rates has come under the Punjab and Haryana High Court scanner, with the Bench issuing notice of motion to the State and other respondents on a PIL alleging loss of around Rs 9 crore to the state exchequer.

The development is significant as the petitioner has alleged the distribution of the cycles was timed with Punjab elections. The notice has been issued for March 14 by the Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice AK Mittal.

In his petition, Amritsar resident SC Aggarwal has sought inquiry into the purchase of bicycles for Rs 41 crore under the Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme.

Referring to newspaper reports, he said the cycles were purchased to be delivered at election time in Punjab. A news item was also placed on record "which showed how the government was using public money to influence the common man".

Counsel for the petitioner Gourave Bhayyia Gilhotra added even if the state policy was beneficial, it has to be exercised in a fair manner, which in the present case was missing.

Gilhotra added bicycle of the same specification were purchased by the State of Haryana by paying Rs 512 less for each bicycle. "The State of Punjab was fully aware of the price at which the neighbouring State of Haryana was making the purchases, which clearly proves that the respondent Controller of Stores took the decision to buy the bicycles at a high rate for some ulterior gaining".

The decision resulted into a "lavish expenditure of around Rs 9 crore, which could have been very easily saved", he has added.