srk 1 pil-8-10.sxw THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION NO.8 OF 2010 Shri Arvind Maruti Chavan ... Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra and others. ... Respondents Mr. V.Y. Sanglikar i/by Mr. K.N. Kandekar for the petitioner. Mr. S.A. Sawant i/by Mr. H.E. Palwe and Mr. Sagar Kasar for respondent Nos. 7 to 9. Mr. Uday Warunjikar with Mr. Rahul More for respondent Nos.4 and 5. Mr. V.D. Patil, Government Pleader for State-respondent Nos.1 to 3. CORAM : MOHIT S. SHAH, C.J. & S.J. KATHAWALLA , J. Tuesday, December 14, 2010 P.C. The grievance in this PIL is that there was inaction on the part of the respondents-authorities in not taking action against respondent Nos.7,8 and 9, who according to the petitioner, had misappropriated the public funds which were otherwise to be paid only upon excavation of wells under the Jawahar Rozgar Hami Yojana. srk 2 pil-8-10.sxw 2. In the affidavit dated 7th September, 2010, the Deputy Collector (E.G.S.), Satara had stated that necessary enquiry was being conducted and that the Collector, Satara had initiated appropriate action and the matter was transferred to the Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Satara for further implementation. It was also stated that Tahasildar, Koregaon gave his report dated 6th January, 2010 after a site visit and after recording the statements of concerned persons that there was no excavation of wells as per the sanctioned scheme and bogus report of construction of wells is shown thereby causing misappropriation of government grant. Copy of the report is also produced at Exhibit `E' to the reply affidavit. 3. The further affidavit dated 2nd December, 2010 of the Deputy Engineer also states that the Block Development Officer of Panchayat Samiti, Koregaon has filed First Information Report with the Koregaon Police Station authorities on 27.11.2010 disclosing the offences punishable under section 420 r/w.34 of I.P.C. and C.R. No.108 of 2010 has been registered at Koregaon Police Station in Satara District. A copy of the FIR is also produced with the affidavit at Exhibit `A'. The Deputy Engineer has further pointed out in the said affidavit that under section 179 of Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Act, 1962, action has been initiated for recovery of the amount from respondent Nos.7 and 8 and that the amount to be recovered is Rs. 1,88,819/- alongwith interest at the rate of 12.5% as arrears of land revenue. 4. In view of the above, it is clear that the concerned authorities have initiated action and, therefore, this PIL is disposed of with a direction to the respondents to complete the procedure which is already initiated, as expeditiously as possible and preferably within six months from today. srk 3 pil-8-10.sxw 5. As far as the petitioner's allegations against respondent No.9 and other concerned persons are concerned, we leave it open to the authorities to look into the matter and take appropriate action. Petition stands disposed of accordingly. CHIEF JUSTICE S.J. KATHAWALLA, J.