In a landmark judgment, the Orissa High Court has quashed the list of development projects approved by Puri Collector for villages in Astaranga and Kakaptpur blocks of the district under Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana (GGY) and directed the administration to implement those selected by the Gram Sabhas.
The single judge bench of Justice SC Parija has made serious observations on the conduct of the Collector Puri, Project Director, DRDA and BDOs in changing the list under pressure of Kakatpur MLA Rabi Mallick.
“It is not understood how the officials, who are responsible public servants, became mute spectators to the high handed action of the local MLA and agreed to prepare a fresh project list as per his directions and approved the same in gross disregard to the guidelines of the State Government. It is also very alarming that the MLA, who is the elected representative of the people and is expected to uphold the rule of law, has acted in such irresponsible manner,” the Judge observed. The directions came in response to a batch of writ petitions filed by sarpanches of at least 10 gram panchayats challenging the approval of projects to be undertaken under GGY for 2013-14, which had not been selected and recommended by the Gram Sabhas.
As per the case records, the petitioners convened the Gram Sabhas and selected 68 and 76 projects for villages under Astaranga and Kakatpur blocks respectively. Later, the lists were forwarded to the Project Director, DRDA, Puri. However, district-level committee headed by Collector, under the influence of MLA Rabi Mallick, rejected the list and asked the BDOs to prepare a fresh proposal on his recommendations. The new list was approved.
The petitioners submitted that the approved projects were not selected or approved by the Gram Sabha in gross violation of guidelines of GGY scheme. Considering all aspects, the court quashed revised list approved by Puri Collector and directed implementation of projects that were selected by the Gram Sabhas.