IT IS official. The mafia has been running a parallel set-up in UP and that the governments over the years have done precious little to curb its activities.
Principal secretary (Programme and Implementation) GB Patnaik has submitted a detailed report before Justice Devi Prasad Singh admitting the presence of mafia elements in virtually every department that had something to offer. Justice Singh is hearing the Chandrika Prasad Nishad Versus State of UP case wherein counsel for the petitioner Bulbul Godiyal had highlighted the presence of the mafia (which according to Godiyal was more powerful than the administration) in the Department of Mining.
Patnaik submitted his report in the court on April 24, 2006. The report not only confirmed the presence of mafia elements in the mining department but also in other departments like Medical, Bridge Corporation, Lok-Nirman Vibhag, Irrigation, Railways, Coal and many other departments.’
Justice Singh while hearing the case on April 26 said, “The affidavit contains reference of the mafia activity in various fields. But it appears that no steps have been taken by the government to check the interference of mafia since 1993 when the then DGP had admitted the presence of the mafia.”
The court also observed: “The report submitted by GB Patnaik shows that the activities of ‘Mafia’ have not only spread its tentacles in various departments, organisations, local bodies or corporations of the State but also in various departments of the Central government like Railways and National Highways.” It asked State advocate general SMA Kazmi as well as additional solicitor general of India Ashok Nigam to submit their version as to what steps the State government or the Union of India had taken or proposed to take to check mafia activities in their respective jurisdiction. The case would come up for next hearing on May 26 next. The court also directed the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, to prepare a study on the mafia and submit it to the court. It also directed a copy of the Patnaik report to be kept in the high court library.
Interestingly, the State during the course of one of the hearings had pleaded before the court to transfer the mafia issue to the State Law Commission for proposing a suitable law to deal with the menace. The court, however, felt that the State had been sleeping over its duties for the last 13 years and merely wanted to buy more time by referring the issue to the SLC.
{{/usCountry}}Interestingly, the State during the course of one of the hearings had pleaded before the court to transfer the mafia issue to the State Law Commission for proposing a suitable law to deal with the menace. The court, however, felt that the State had been sleeping over its duties for the last 13 years and merely wanted to buy more time by referring the issue to the SLC.
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