HC warns of contempt action against Maha Chief Secretary

The Bombay High Court today warned of contempt action against Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Finance Department for failing to abide by its order regarding funds for providing toilets and water coolers in courts across the state.
A division bench of Justices A S Oka and Revati Mohite Dere was hearing a PIL filed by Litigants Association of Maharashtra claiming that in several courts, basic facilities like toilets and water are not available.
The state government had in August last year sanctioned Rs 5.38 crore for providing toilets, water coolers and purifiers and benches for litigants in court across the state. However, the amount was released only on March 2, this year.

The court was earlier informed that if the amount was not handed over to the high court administration which would then deposit it in the account of the Public Works Department by the end of financial year (March 31), it would lapse.
The HC had on March 24 directed the government to release the funds to the high court administration and ensure that it does not lapse. The government was granted time till July 31 to release the funds.
When the court was today informed that funds have not yet been released, Justice Oka said, "We have no option than to issue contempt notice against Chief Secretary (CS) of the state and Principal Secretary of the Finance Department. Somebody will have to be held accountable.

"We have been passing orders time and again. This is not a matter where the court should be spending so much time on. Does this happen in any other state where money is not given by the government to have better facilities in court buildings?" the bench said.
The court has posted the petition for hearing on July 27.