Can't act as inquiry commission into every scam: HC on dam PIL

The Bombay High Court today said it cannot act as an inquiry commission into each and every scam and directed four activists including Mayank Gandhi to approach the special committee set up by the Maharashtra government to probe into irrigation scams.
A division bench of Justices S J Vazifdar and B P Colabawalla was hearing a public interest litigation alleging irregularities in the awarding and construction of Kondhane dam project in Raigad district.
Additional government pleader Sandeep Shinde informed the court that a special inquiry committee headed by former Secretary Madhavrao Chitale along with three other members has been formed to probe into irrigation scams across the state.

The bench observed that it cannot act as an inquiry commission and directed the government to give a copy of the terms of reference of the Chitale Committee to the petitioners within a week.
"The petitioners shall see if the terms of reference includes grievances raised in their petitions. If it does then they (petitioners) are at liberty to approach the committee. If there is something more in their petitions then they may come back to the High Court for appropriate orders," the court said.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Mihir Desai argued that hundreds of acres of forests will be affected by this project which does not even have the requisite permission from the environment ministry.

Desai further pointed out that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had a few months back issued a stop-work notice on the project as it was also affecting some caves in the vicinity.