SC seeks Allahabad HC's prompt decision on misuse of funds

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Allahabad High Court to decide at the earliest the issue of alleged misuse of public fund by Uttar Pradesh government in installing the statues of various Dalit leaders, including chief minister Mayawati, and her party poll symbol 'elephant' at various places in the state.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Allahabad High Court to decide at the earliest the issue of alleged misuse of public fund by Uttar Pradesh government in installing the statues of various Dalit leaders, including chief minister Mayawati, and her party poll symbol 'elephant' at various places in the state.

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The apex court made it clear that the pendency of the petition before it will not come in the way of the Lucknow bench of the high court in deciding the petition demanding a CBI probe into the alleged misuse of the public fund.

"The subject matter of this writ petition under Article 32 overlaps with the pending petitions in the Allahabad High Court. This writ petition will remain pending in the Supreme Court.

"However, we make it clear that the pendency of this writ petition in the Supreme Court will not pre-empt the High Court from deciding the matter at the earliest," the bench of chief justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said.

On July 9, the apex court had asked the Election Commission to decide within three months the issue of maintainability, raised by Mayawati, of pleas for freezing BSP's poll symbol 'elephant', for allegedly violating the poll panel's instructions on its use by installing statues of elephants all over the state.

Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government, said EC has rejected the complaint filed before it.

The apex court had on February 22 directed EC to adjudicate whether installation of statues of Mayawati and elephant, BSP's election symbol, at various parks in the state, spending public money violated elections law.