IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD PRESENT : THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO WRIT PETITION.No.3180 OF 2011 Date:14.02.2011 Between:- G.Suguna .. Petitioner. A N D The Project Director, DWMA, Mahaboobnagar District. .. Respondents. The Court made the following: ORDER: This writ petition has been instituted by a Field Assistant working at Anthwar, Doultabad Mandal, Mahaboobnagar District, complaining quite bitterly that she has been kept under suspension, entertaining an allegation that there was misappropriation of funds, to a tune of Rs.94,381/- by her. The complaint of the writ petitioner is that she is not responsible for this misappropriation wholly. She was only working as a Field Assistant and if there is any misappropriation that has taken place of the funds, appropriate accountability must be fixed before any penal action is initiated. The writ petitioner, in her explanation dated 11.01.2011, submits that due to lack of awareness, the mates working in the scheme, appear to have incorporated certain binami names in the muster roll and hence, they must be held accountable and responsible for the misappropriation. The fact remains that the social audit has been conducted on 28.09.2010, which revealed large scale misappropriation of funds, the funds are made available for implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Employment Scheme. The very objective of the scheme is to ensure that rural persons are provided with compulsory work and they be paid accordingly. One of the principal objectives sought to be achieved through this scheme was not only execution of public works, but at the same time, providing guaranteed employment, which will save large number of people in the rural areas, who are finding it difficult to survive. The scheme is intended to provide a ray of hope and assures people not to get despaired. When once a person earns his livelihood in an honourable manner, he will be able to preserve himself better. He will consider himself to be useful to the society and consequently, will not take any unfortunate step and it will also help simultaneously certain progress and development to be achieved and recorded by the society. Therefore, misappropriation or mis-utilization of the funds under the scheme, is incompatible to the very nature of the sanction. Any such attempt will not only take sheen off the scheme, but will be counter productive. The respondents are required to follow the principles of natural justice, and conduct an enquiry whenever any allegations of misappropriation or mis-utilization of funds have come to their notice. They are required to fix accountability on the persons concerned and take appropriate penal action against such individuals. I, therefore, consider it appropriate to direct the respondents to complete this exercise within a period of ‘30’ days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order and if it is found that the writ petitioner is responsible for either misappropriation or mis-utilization of the funds under the scheme, final orders considered appropriate and suitable be passed. As an individual against whom an allegation of serious nature has surfaced, is not liable to be entrusted with any further work, giving scope for either enhanced misappropriation or mis-utilization of funds and such individual should be prevented from having access to the records also, to prevent any tampering or influencing the witnesses in the matter. I do not find any merit in this writ petition and it is accordingly, dismissed. No costs. _________________________________ NOOTY RAMAMOHANA RAO, J 14th February, 2011 ksld/ksp