CBI probe recommended

JUSTICE SACHINDRA Dwivedi, in his report on inquiry into the alleged irregularities committed during the tenure of former Speaker Srinivas Tiwari, has recommended a CBI inquiry. He submitted report to the General Administration Department (GAD) with its copies forwarded to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Secretary Vijay Singh.

JUSTICE SACHINDRA Dwivedi, in his report on inquiry into the alleged irregularities committed during the tenure of former Speaker Srinivas Tiwari, has recommended a CBI inquiry. He submitted report to the General Administration Department (GAD) with its copies forwarded to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Secretary Vijay Singh.

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The report highlights large-scale irregularities committed in appointments and release of grants among other things. Chouhan, however, when confronted by journalists, said this afternoon he would comment on the report only after going through it. 

Talking to the Hindustan Times, Justice Dwivedi said the large-scale irregularities committed at the behest of the then Speaker must be the first of its kind in the country. So many appointments were made during his tenure that he was not able to get to know the exact number.

Further, appointments made were of upper castes people only. He was also unable to understand what the compulsion was on the then chief minister Digvijay Singh’s part to relax rules in such cases.

The former Speaker was not home at his Rewa village when phone call was made for his version. He was said to have gone to some other village from his Rewa village.

Talking of the irregularities, he said the beneficiaries were first appointed at Vidhan Sabha. After some time the then Speaker used to make recommendations to the government departments for accommodating the beneficiaries. If anybody challenged the back-door appointment in High Court, the service of the beneficiary was withdrawn by Vidhan Sabha and later he was accommodated in some other departments.

Justice Dwivedi said this was the method of appointments executed through Vidhan Sabha. He was not able to know how many other appointments were made directly in the government departments at Tiwari’s recommendations.

He said it was interesting to see Digvijay Singh’s order to relax rules in such cases. He used to order that the specific appointment could be made relaxing the rules but such an appointment should not be treated as a precedent. But he did this in several such cases.

Justice Dwivedi said the state government took over a higher secondary school at the then Speaker’s village. Then there were about 12 employees. But after the government taking over the school a good number of people including relatives of Tiwari were appointed at the school.

A housing society was given land for providing plots to low income group people but the plots were given to those many of whom already had plots or houses.

Similarly, Tiwari released grants to people including his relatives. He was entitled for disbursement of fund up to Rs 50 lakh annually, said Justice Dwivedi.

Justice Dwivedi completed his inquiry in five months. Initially, he was given three months’ time by the BJP government to complete the inquiry.

 

Probe questioned
A DELEGATION of State Assembly Secretariat Employees’ Union called on Governor Dr Balram Jakhar today to protest against inquiry conducted by Justice Sachindra Dwivedi into affairs of the Assembly secretariat during the stint of Sriniwas Tiwari as Speaker. 

In a memorandum to the Governor, the delegation contended that under the Constitution, Assembly secretariat is accountable to the House only and none could order an inquiry into its affairs but the Speaker himself.

The delegation informed the Governor that Speaker Ishwardas Rohani has denied having given any order for inquiry into affairs of the Assembly secretariat during his predecessor’s stint. The delegation further protested against certain statements of Justice Dwivedi in the media and said that it has lowered dignity of the House.