SC REFUSES TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM PMCF TO NDRF
The Centre for Public Interest Litigation(CPIL) represented by Dushyant Dave
and Prashant Bhushan, senior advocates of the SC contended that the PM Cares
Fund has public money, is not subject to audit by CAG , not answerable to RTI
and contributions by companys maybe considered agaist CSR etc. Don't people
have a right to know just how much is the total amount received, from whom,
contributions from all sources being tax free with no transparency and
accountability mandatory for public funds? There is already a NDRF(National
Disaster Relief Fund and PMNRF (PM National Relief Fund).Though bugetary
allocations done for these funds, voluntary donations are also encompassed. The
government contended that the PMCF was set up in an emergency situation as
charity fund, for any emergency for citizen's assistance and providing
necessary relief. The PM is the Chairman and ministers of defence, home and
finance are the trustees. Subsequently at TV debates, the government
spokespersons gave figures where the money was spent, and assured it will be
audited (not specified by which chartered accountants). This is highly
unsatisfactory since except in house, the public is not entitled to know any
details of exactly how much is the total received, from where (some speculate
chinese and foreign funds involved), and total figures shown hide how tendered,
costs of each item etc. For example possible an item costing Rs10/- maybe
billed for Rs 500/- and so on. BJP President and Union ministers derogatorily
state this PIL is filed by "band of rent a cause activists" when "transparency
is writ large in the PMCF". With the courts also upholding the governments
free from public scrutiny Electioral Bonds and Prashant Bhushan reportedly sent
to jail for contempt of court. Whither our democracy and public interest?
Completely diverted with Sushant Singh Rajput case. Less focus on Chinese
provacatively on our borders, our dire economic state, tremendous loss of jobs
, shooting up high prices of essential commodities and raging Covid
comparatively ignored by most media, especially the Television channels.
Unbelievable media trial being permitted !
