The Centre and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) were today directed by Delhi High Court to respond to a plea seeking a probe into alleged financial and administrative irregularities in the state-run Central Electronics Ltd (CEL).
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal issued notices and asked them to file responses to the plea and posted the matter for hearing on May 3.
CEL was established in 1974 to commercially exploit indigenous technologies developed by the national laboratories and research and development institutions in the country.
The plea has sought a direction to the Centre and CVC to constitute a high-power committee under the court's supervision to "inquire into the affairs of respondent number 3 (CEL) and identify the real perpetrators of such financial and administrative irregularities which caused huge losses to the public exchequer especially in light of the inspection report of CAG...".
The petition, filed by Madanjit Kumar, has alleged that he had made several representations to the Centre and CVC in this matter but no action was taken.
During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the petitioner, claimed that as per the CAG audit report, there was misappropriation of public funds.
To this, the bench asked the lawyers appearing for the respondents, "tell us what action have you taken on this. Get instructions and file your response".
The plea has alleged that "due to irregular and illegal appointment of officials, the respondent number three (CEL) suffered heavy losses".
It claimed that financial irregularities in CEL had surfaced in the report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the petitioner, "while going through the annual report of CEL for the year 2014, came to know regarding some adverse and serious comments of CAG on the balance sheet about misappropriation of public money".
The petition also sought a direction to the Centre and CVC to initiate appropriate proceedings against "errant officials of respondent number 3 (CEL) for their illegal act and misappropriation of public money which resulted in huge financial loss to the public exchequer running into crores of rupees".
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