India
In a hearing held today, the Madras HC stated that it will seal the fate of Raghupathy Commission (whether it can continue the probe or should be dismissed) on Friday (3 August). The single-bench Raghupathy Commission was formed by the J Jayalalithaa government in 2011 to probe irregularities in the construction of the Secretariat Complex initiated by the DMK-led government in 2010.
E Palaniswamy-led Tamil Nadu government had extended its full medical support to DMK president M Karunanidhi, who is being treated at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai. But took a major turn as recently the government had filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking to vacate the stay against R Raghupathy Commission that was probing irregularities in constructing multi-crore secretariat complex initiated by DMK.
In a hearing held today, the Madras HC stated that it will seal the fate of Raghupathy Commission (whether it can continue the probe or should be dismissed) on Friday (3 August).
The single-bench Raghupathy Commission was formed by the J Jayalalithaa government in 2011 to probe irregularities in the construction of the Secretariat Complex initiated by the DMK-led government in 2010.
The complex was built on a 25-acre site and is known as the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai Road in Chennai. The contract was given to the Chennai-based construction company ECCI, by DMK government.
However, Karunanidhi had approached the Madras High Court seeking a stay on the probe by the commission. In 2015, a stay was granted by HC. There was no appeal to vacate the stay for three years.
But now, the High Court has slammed the committees for not contributing to the probe and wasting time.
The Madras HC directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit all details regarding any commissions set up by it and the money spent on them.
The court asked for the list of commissions and the privileges being used by the members of these commissions too, on 26 July.
Accordingly, the State government has submitted a report in this regard and said that since the forming of the Raghupathy Commission, Rs 4.11 crore was spent on it. And since the stay by the court on this commission, Rs 2 crore has been spent. So, now the final verdict on the status of the commission will be out tomorrow.
Following this, the Tamil Nadu government requested the Madras HC to vacate the stay put on the Raghupathy Commission probing irregularities in the construction of Secretariat Building.
But the timing of the request is quite amusing. On 28 July, Chief Minister E Palaniswamy had declared that the State is ready to provide any medical assistance to Karunanidhi.
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