Petition filed against 'decision' of Pb govt to give smart phones

A petition was today filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the "decision" of the Punjab government to distribute smart phones to youths.

Petitioner Hari Chand urged the high court to restrain the Punjab government from giving smart phones to youths as it would lead to "wasteful expenditure of Rs 150 crore to provide 15 lakh smart phones".

However, a division bench of justices A K Mittal and A S Grewal, while posting the matter for April 25, made oral observations that the petitioner may bring the facts to the notice of the HC as and when "even one smart phone is distributed by the state government", said Chand.

The petitioner claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had announced in the state Assembly during the recently concluded Budget session that the state government would provide smart phones to youths in a phased manner.

"Thus, the state government is likely to indulge into wasteful expenditure of around