State questions validity of PILs on mining scam

The state government today questioned the validity of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed in the Orissa High Court seeking a CBI probe into the multi million crore mining scam in the state.

Placing a 126-page counter affidavit in the High Court on behalf of the state government, Mukul Rohtogi, former additional solicitor general and senior lawyer of Supreme Court, criticized the grounds on which the PILs were filed, stating that there are no specific charges levelled against any individual or organization in the PILs necessitating CBI probe into the scam.

Questioning the merit of the PILs, the state government-appointed lawyer said the points raised in the petitions are “vague” and “general” basing on newspaper reports and suggested that instead of CBI probe, the ongoing vigilance enquiry into the illegal mining in the state could be monitored by the High Court on a regular basis.

It may be mentioned here that at least seven PILs were filed in the High Court having similar prayers and seeking CBI probe into the rampant illegal mining in the state and of them. Out of them, only four petitions have been taken into cognizance and are being adjudicated over jointly.

In response to the notices issued to it by the High Court, the state government had earlier submitted its affidavit in the court in which it had vehemently opposed the PILs, stating that the demand for a CBI probe was “uncalled for” as a judicial commission of enquiry headed by a retired judge of Supreme Court has already been appointed.