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Judgment
The petition has been filed as a public interest litigation by two respected residents of Shillong.
The matter pertains to the perceived illegal procurement of vehicles by some officials of the Police Department. The petitioners claim that different vehicles were purchased by the Police Department since 2019 without any valid sanction from the competent authority and that a total number of 29 official vehicles were in the personal custody of the seventh respondent who was then the Assistant Inspector General (Administration) of the Meghalaya Police.
The petitioners suspect that though there was some hue and cry after the matter surfaced and some semblance of an inquiry may also have been conducted, there may be an attempt to cover up the entire episode and, worse still, not take steps against the guilty nor make any attempt to recover the public money that has obviously been squandered.
The State says that the inquiry has been conducted and the matter is under consideration. The State further submits that charges may be framed against some persons against whom prima facie material has been discovered. However, the State says that it is too early for any drastic action to be taken immediately.
As to whether any steps have been taken to ensure that those perceived to be behind the defalcation do not remove, dissipate or transfer their assets, the State says that it is only after any person is found guilty of defalcation that steps may be taken to recover the money that may have been misappropriated.
Unfortunately, the greater scam in this country is not in the scams themselves, but in the inquiries that follow the scams. More often than not, tomes of paper are wasted to bury the truth and seldom have the guilty been taken to task or any attempt made to recover the public money that was wasted.
It is hoped that this particular matter does not travel the same established route. The State should file a report through the Secretary in the Home Department indicating the effective measures taken, including arresting any attempt by those prima facie found to be involved in the racket to remove their assets or funds. Such report should be filed when the matter appears next on October 17, 2022.