Madras High Court Asks Why PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' Was Not Procured For Public Libraries Despite Expert Committee Recommendation

The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice MD Sumathi was hearing a contempt petition in connection with the alleged scam in procurement of books in public libraries across the State.

“I was told that Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat was recommended by the expert committee but it was not procured. Manathin Kural was not procured but Agal Vilakku's books, you found worthy to procure?” Justice Swaminathan asked.

“Thanks to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, we have come to know the great deeds done by several persons in the remote corners of the nation which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. One member of the Expert Committee on coming to know that we are seized of the matter reached out to us and informed us that the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat which was translated in Tamil as “Manathin Kural” was recommended but rejected and did not make it to the book shelves of the public libraries of Tamil Nadu. We wanted to confirm the veracity of this information. When we confronted the Director of Public Libraries, there was only silence,” the court later recorded in its order.

The case relates to the alleged procurement of “AI-Generated” books to the public libraries in the State at high prices.

During yesterday's hearing the bench had directed the Tamil Nadu DVAC to register FIR against persons involved in the scam. The court had also directed freezing the bank accounts of the accused publishers. Further, the court directed the Director of Directorate of Public Libraries to initiate departmental action against the officials involved in the scam.

When the case was taken up today, the DVAC informed the court that it had already strated enquiry and was also obtaining necessary documents. The DVAC requested the court to grant it 4 days' time to file a structured FIR instead of an omnibus one.

The Director of DPL also informed the court that she would submit particulars of the officers involved in the alleged procurement by Monday.

Taking note of the submissions, the court has adjourned the hearing.

"We want the department as well as DVAC to rise to the occasion. Not one official associated with this scam should go scot-free. All of them must be brought to book (pun intended). That does not mean that we have pre-judged anything. No individual has been condemned by us. Without giving the fullest opportunity, we will not conclude that any particular individual is guilty of wilful breach of the judicial order made in WP(MD)No.10150 of 2019," the court said.