Madras High Court Orders Criminal Action Against Lalgudi Panchayat Union Officials For Misappropriation Of Funds Under PMAY-G Scheme

"The Superintendent of Police, Tiruchirappalli shall also take steps to initiate criminal action as against the officials of Lalgudi Panchayat Union, Tiruchirappalli who misappropriated the funds for allotment of houses under PMAY-G scheme."

The division bench of Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice Victoria Gowri of the Madurai bench took note of the submissions made by the Principal Secretary to the Government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department that steps have been taken to appoint verification officers in the cadre of Assistant Directors and Deputy Collectors to ensure proper implementation of the scheme.

"This Court place it on record the steps taken by the Principal Secretary to Government,Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Secretariat, Chennai in appointing verification officers in the rank of Assistant Director of Rural Development and Deputy Collectors, who are not below the rank of Revenue Divisional Officer and to ensure the proper implementation of government schemes and programs, specifically in the context of providing housing to the rural poor in executing the Government Schemes."

The court was hearing a petition filed by Udhayakumar alleging that illegal allotments were made under the scheme in Marathur Village by misusing the PMAY-G and Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) Scheme. It was alleged that the union officials had created a fake approval with a deceased person's thumb impression to show that they received scheme money in July 2022. Though representations were made to the District Collector and the Director, DVAC, no action was taken.

Additional Advocate General, on the other hand, submitted that departmental action had been initiated against the officials and charges have been framed under Section 17(b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

It was also submitted that based on an earlier order of the court, the Principal Secretary had instructed the District Collector to appoint officials to verify the houses allotted to ineligible beneficiaries and the same was under progress.

The court was however not satisfied with the allotments and instructed the Government to appoint officials not below the rank of Revenue Divisional Officer, to conduct detailed verification of the records and to ascertain the genuineness of allotment of houses to the beneficiaries under the Scheme.

Following this, the Principal Secretary directed the District Collectors to appoint verification officers in the cadre of Assistant Directors and Deputy Collectors who are not below the rank of Revenue Divisional Officer.

Additional Advocate General also produced a letter from the District Collector to the Superintendent of Police directing him to take action against all the concerned officers who were involved in the misappropriation of funds. Taking note of these submissions, the court disposed of the petition.

Case Title: K Udhayakumar v. The District Collector and another

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Mad) 122