Troubling Allegations: SC Seeks Swaraj, Centre, & CAG Rebuttals on Arunachal CM’s Contract Handouts to Kin
Supreme Court Agrees to Probe Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister’s Alleged Conflict of Interest
The Indian Supreme Court has agreed to investigate allegations that Arunchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu awarded contracts to his family members, allegedly violating the principles of good governance and transparency. The court has sought responses from the union ministries of Home Affairs, Finance, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India within a five-week deadline.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by two NGOs, Save Mon Region Federation and Voluntary Arunachal Senaa, alleging that all government contracts in the state were being awarded to the Chief Minister’s close family members. The petitioners claim that the Chief Minister’s family members have received a large number of contracts, including those related to flood damage restoration works, despite a clear conflict of interest.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justices Sanjay Kumar, and K.V. Viswanathan, has ordered the state government to provide details on whether any government contract was awarded to Chief Minister Pema Khandu or his family members. The bench has also sought information on the grant of government contracts to other family members of the present Chief Minister.
"We want the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affairs reports… We must have a clear-cut answer as to who are the parties to whom the contracts were awarded and what was the process (followed)," Chief Justice Khanna said during the hearing. The court also wants a detailed affidavit from the state government furnishing details of parties to whom the contracts were awarded and the reference to the contracts mentioned in the plea.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, alleged that the state was being run like a private limited company, with all contracts awarded to the Chief Minister’s wife’s company, his cousins’ company, and so on. "Hundreds of crores have been looted," he claimed. On the other hand, the government counsel opposed the plea, calling it an abuse of process of the law and stating that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has already reported that Arunachal Pradesh was doing everything it could to follow the law.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the matter to be heard in the week following July 21. The court has also asked for a detailed final status report from the CAG, keeping in mind the code of conduct for lawmakers and their role in awarding government contracts.
The PIL claims that Rinchin Drema’s firm, Brand Eagles, was awarded a large number of government contracts despite the clear conflict of interest. The petitioners argue that it is reasonable to draw an inference that such favors for government contracts could not have been possible without the direct knowledge, consent, and active support of the minister concerned.
The case is a significant test of the government’s commitment to transparency and good governance in the state. The Supreme Court’s intervention is expected to bring much-needed accountability to the governance process in Arunchal Pradesh.
Original Source: https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2025/03/20/sc-seeks-replies-from-arunachal-centre-cag-after-pil-alleges-cm-gave-contracts-to-kin/
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Publish Date: 2025-03-20 01:28:00
