HC raps govt on misuse of madrassa funds

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati high court asked the Assam government to clarify its stand on the misappropriation of government money for the ostensible purchase of texts and exercise books by the Directorate of Madrassa Education, on Thursday.
The high court's response came after an NGO, Peoples' Society, filed a PIL (102/13) citing the CAG's latest state report which revealed misuse of over Rs 1.80 crore by the Madrassa education office here.
"The report states that the government procured 1,40,000 text books at Rs 90 each. These originally cost Rs 38 each. Some Rs 72,80,000 was misused in buying the only text books. Similarly, 1,55,336 exercise books were bought at Rs 95 each, when their original price was only Rs 25 each. This resulted in a misuse of Rs 1,08,73,520. Thus, at least Rs 1,81,53,520 was used in buying these two sets of items from September 2011 to June 2013," said petitioner Bishwajyoti Purkayastha.
The state government needs to file its affidavit before the court within the next four weeks.
However, an official from the Directorate of Madrassa Education said, "The office has followed proper procedure in procuring text and exercise books for the madrassas in the state."