New Delhi: The workplace of Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha, has come beneath scrutiny after reviews emerged of directing state administration funds in direction of a non-public engagement ceremony held in Lutyens’ Delhi in 2021. In accordance with a report by The Wire, the occasion was reportedly organized for the pre-wedding night of Sinha’s son. Nevertheless, two months later, when Sinha’s workplace didn’t settle the invoice, Neeraj Kumar, the Resident Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi, wrote to Raj Bhavan concerning the non-payment of over Rs 10 lakh spent on organizing the ceremony at 7, Akbar Highway, the official residence sometimes allotted to high-profile authorities officers, together with Lok Sabha audio system and cupboard ministers.
Kumar clarified to The Wire that the fee was finally made by Sinha’s workplace in a while. He added, “That is an inside matter being introduced incorrectly. It is an try to defame the LG. I’ve nothing extra to say on this.”
Allegations Of Misuse Of Authorities Funds
Authorized specialists and politicians argue that the directive from the LG’s workplace for expenditure violates “constitutional irregularity” and exemplifies misuse of public funds. Senior IAS officer Ashok Parmar has referred to as for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the matter, whereas the Jammu and Kashmir Congress has demanded readability from the LG on the problem.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, accused Raj Bhavan of constantly utilizing authorities funds for the comfort of the LG. “Whether or not it is buying automobiles for them, hiring personal jets, or spending tens of millions for his or her ‘company,’ they contemplate Jammu and Kashmir their property,” he informed The Wire.
In the meantime, former Legislation Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Ashraf Mir, has alleged this as a transparent case of misuse of public funds from the central pool allotted for state welfare or public curiosity works. “Any private expenditure doesn’t fall beneath these domains,” Mir acknowledged.
Senior advocate Nazeer Ahmad Ronga emphasised that such bills should not permissible beneath the foundations governing Union Territories’ chiefs.
The engagement occasion passed off in February 2021 when Sinha’s son Abhinav Sinha obtained engaged. In accordance with reviews, Sinha couldn’t attend the marriage reception on June 24, 2021, as he was invited to attend a gathering of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cupboard. This assembly was the primary assembly in Jammu and Kashmir because the division and transformation of the Union Territory.
Nevertheless, in February of the identical yr, a ceremony associated to Abhinav Sinha’s engagement was held in Lutyens’ Delhi at 7, Akbar Highway. This can be a Kind VIII bungalow sometimes allotted to high-profile authorities officers, together with these in Parliament.
A letter dated April 6, 2021, addressed to Neetishwar Kumar, the then Chief Secretary of the LG’s workplace, reported that the LG’s workplace had made preparations for “lunch and dinner for 120 folks within the afternoon and night” on February 2, 2021, at 7, Akbar Highway, New Delhi, as per the directive, fee was made for the whole quantity of 10,71,605/-. “As a result of nature of this occasion, the request is for this quantity to be deposited within the treasury to settle the problem,” the letter stated.
In accordance with official guidelines, a Lieutenant Governor is entitled to “leisure allowance for the safety of arts, tradition, and music,” “hospitality grants to cowl the hospitality bills of official company,” phone expenses, service mail, books and magazines, stationery and printing, and different miscellaneous bills beneath the “workplace expenditure allowance.”
