The Jharkhand high court on Tuesday overturned its earlier order through which the principal accountant general (PAG) was asked to audit the accounts of Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA), Jharkhand Judicial Academy (JJA) and National University for Study and Research in Law (NUSRL).
JHALSA and JJA are judicial institutions functioning under the administrative control of the Jharkhand high court. While the former is a statutory body constituted with a view to providing free legal service and to ensure opportunity to the downtrodden class of the society for securing justice, the latter is meant to provide legal training, research and other academic facilities to judicial officers and lawyers. Both the institutions receive fund from the state government.
NUSRL, Ranchi, recognised by the University Grants Commission, was set up in 2010 after the state granted Rs 50 crore one-time fund.
A division bench of Justice S Chandrashekhar and Justice Amitav K Gupta recalled the June 7 order of the high court after hearing review petitions filed by the aforesaid three institutions.
Earlier, the high court had taken suo motu cognizance of a letter written by a citizen to the Jharkhand chief justice alleging therein about mismanagement and misutilisation of funds by these institutions.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier, the high court had taken suo motu cognizance of a letter written by a citizen to the Jharkhand chief justice alleging therein about mismanagement and misutilisation of funds by these institutions.
{{/usCountry}}Initiating a PIL into the matter, a division bench of then Chief Justice PK Mohanty and Justice Amitav K Gupta on June 7 had directed the PAG of Jharkhand to audit the accounts of the three institutions within four months and submit a report to the court.
The bench had also directed the comptroller and auditor general of India to monitor the auditing that would be carried out by Jharkhand PAG.
The bench had observed, “Having regard to the nature of allegations and for ensuring transparency in the administration and interest of justice, it is deemed proper that the accounts be audited by the principal accountant general of state of Jharkhand.”
Aggrieved by the order, the three institutions had filed separate review petitions urging the court to recall its earlier order.