On Thursday, the Supreme Court said it “shares the same feelings” as a PIL, seeking to declare as “unconstitutional and illegal” the alleged release of government funds to Jammu and Kashmir-based separatists, as it agreed to hear the matter next week.
When lawyer, M L Sharma sought urgent hearing of his plea alleging that the separatists “enjoyed” the exchequer’s money and promoted “anti-India activities” in the Valley, the apex court said “we also share the same feelings. Everybody sitting here feels the same.”
The bench comprising of Justices A R Dave and L Nageswara then said that the plea be listed for hearing on 14 September.
In his plea, Sharma also sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged disbursement of government funds to the separatists.
The plea stated:
Declare the impugned release of fund from Consolidated Fund of India, without authority and valid permission for supporting separatist group for working against the country, as unconstitutional, illegal and amount to criminal breach of trust attracting section 409 of the IPC.
The PIL, which has made Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Jammu and Kashmir government and CBI as parties, has also alleged that an offence of corruption for misusing of public office and funds has been made out in the case.
The plea has sought a direction to CBI to register an FIR against the “impugned release of fund from Consolidated Fund of India without authority and valid permission for supporting separatist group working against the country and to conduct investigation...and file the report before this court for further action”.
(With inputs from PTI)
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