Andhra Pradesh HC issues notices to govt on PIL challenging funds diversion

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh high court on Wednesday issued notices to the state government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed challenging the diversion of funds from panchayat accounts.

The high court observed that the governments have been doing this by creating multiple accounts and shifting funds from one account to another account. Mahatma Gandhi AP Panchayat Chamber president YV B Rajendra Prasad and five others moved the high court contending that the state government has diverted ₹7,659 crore from the accounts of various panchayats in the state.

Arguing on behalf of the petitioners, senior counsel P Veera Reddy said the grants received from the Union government from 14th and 15th Finance Commission to panchayats have been diverted by the state government.