Government says no to Ex-HC judge looking into Chikki scam

The government of Maharashtra on Tuesday informed the Bombay high court that it is not in favour of a former high court judge conducting inquiry into the alleged chikki scam. The government said the chief secretary is conducting a transparent inquiry into it and considering his knowledge about administrative work it would be better that he conducts the inquiry.

Advocate general Srihari Aney on Tuesday informed the division bench of Justice V.M. Kanade and Justice Revati Mohite-Dere about state’s decision while replying to court’s direction in which the bench had asked the government pleader to ask the government if it is ready to appoint a former high court judge to conduct the inquiry as asked by the petitioner.

Mr Aney told the court that chief secretary is the highest civil servant and is aware of all administrative work and people should trust him.

He also said that earlier the court had also sought to know from government details of all such contracts during last 15 years and in such case chief secretary would be the appropriate person to conduct the inquiry.

The petitioner on last occasion had requested the court to direct the state government to appoint a former high court judge to conduct inquiry into the alleged chikki scam because they believe that chief secretary could be pressurised. However the AG told the court that this is not the case and people should have faith in him as he is working transparently.

In the past, the court was informed that the women and child development department (WCDD) has formed a committee in November 2015 to look into irregularities of all departments from 2001 to 2014-15. The court was informed that this committee would examine purchases made by various government departments on rate contract basis, the similar way in which the snack was purchased by WCDD which landed its minister Pankaja Munde in a controversy.