HC issues notice to Punjab Govt, Badals on conflict of interest plea

Friday, 18/09/2015

http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/

Chandigarh : Two months after the business interest of the Badals came under the judicial scanner with an anonymous writer questioning the permissibility of elected representatives owning commercial ventures, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today put Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and the state of Punjab on notice.

Taking up the matter this morning, Justice Satish Kumar Mittal and Justice Mahavir Singh Chauhan also issued notices for December 10 to the State Chief Secretary, Orbit Aviations and Dabwali Transport company.

The notice came on a PIL by advocate HC Arora for directions to the State Chief Secretary to ensure that the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister stayed away from the affairs of the transport department and the state transport undertakings till they or their family held shares in private transport companies.

Arora claimed an affidavit was filed by Punjab State Transport Commissioner along with a list of private transport companies, the major shareholder and directors. The documents were furnished during the hearing of a suo motu or “Court of its own motion” case.

A scrutiny of the documents showed that Sukhbir was holding more than 90 per cent shares in a private company — Dabwali Transport. Orbit Resort was also substantially owned by his family. His wife was also a shareholder in Orbit Aviation.

Besides, there were common co-directors in transport companies. Lakhvir Singh and Jagpal Singh were co-directors in Taj Travels Ltd and Dabwali Transport. They were also directors in Indo Canadian Transport.

Similarly, Mohammad Jameel and Mohammad Rafiq were directors in Dabwali Transport Company and Orbit Aviation. As such, serious conflict of interest was apparent. The private transport companies were having roaring business in Punjab, while the public sector undertakings were suffering huge losses.

Referring to a CAG report on the state sector transport undertakings submitted in 2009-2010, Arora claimed the scheme evolved by Punjab for issuing route permits was being violated. The private transport companies were issued excess route permits; and permits on national highways and monopoly routes.

He added the CAG report also observed that private transporters were plying buses in an unauthorised manner and the letters written by Punjab Roadways to the State Transport Commissioner and Regional Transport Authority on unauthorised operations by private operators were not responded to.

The report further talked about the state intervention in revision of fares by public transport undertakings.