Supreme Court Receives Sealed Report from Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister in Tender Allegations Case

The Supreme Court received a sealed report from Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu in a petition alleging irregularities in the awarding of government tenders dating back a decade. Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi also indicated their intent to seek assistance from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) regarding the matter.

The case stems from a Special Leave Petition filed by the NGO "Voluntary Arunachal Sena," which alleged that government contracts in Arunachal Pradesh were granted without a proper tendering process. This petition was originally filed in 2010, challenging the dismissal of a PIL filed in 2007, with Dorjee Khandu, the Chief Minister during 2007-2011, as one of the respondents. The current Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, was later added as a respondent.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, representing the present Chief Minister, submitted a sealed report. In response, the Court decided to review the report's contents and scheduled the next hearing for October 11. The Court also expressed its intent to seek guidance from the CAG.

Justice Aniruddh Bose stated, "Our first endeavor is to find out from CAG. Without impleading him as a party, we just take the assistance of the CAG."

Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner organization "Voluntary Arunachal Sena," welcomed the Court's decision.

Justice Bose indicated a desire to understand the norms and guidelines surrounding such matters, considering whether it should be investigated by the police. He inquired about state-specific norms and guidelines and the unique characteristics of Arunachal Pradesh.

During the proceedings, Bhushan raised concerns about threats faced by individuals associated with the case, citing armed threats and intimidation. Justice Bose assured that the Court was aware of these issues and would thoroughly review the report submitted to them.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University