Regupathi panel files handed over to DVAC, govt. tells HC

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 00:00 IST

‘Department to take a call on continuance of commission’

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday informed the Madras High Court that the Justice R. Regupathi Commission of Inquiry that was looking into alleged irregularities in the construction of the new Secretariat complex during the DMK regime will not be revived and that files relating to the case have been handed over the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

Advocate General Vijay Narayan made the submission before Justice S.M. Subramaniam who had passed interim orders suspending the commission.

Mr. Narayan told the court that all the documents relating to the commission had been handed over to the DVAC and the agency had to take a further call on the issue.

Last month, Mr. Justice Subramaniam, while questioning the functioning of various commissions, directed the State government to suspend the Regupathi Commission and ordered that all further allotment of funds, perquisites and government facilities provided to the commission be stopped. The judge had observed that the continuance of the commission, without any end in sight, would not serve any purpose.

Formed in 2011

The commission was formed in 2011 by the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to probe illegalities and irregularities in the construction of the Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai.

The complex now functions as a multi-specialty government hospital.

Mr. Justice Subramaniam had also observed that the State was at liberty to either dissolve certain commissions if they were found to be unnecessary or fix a time frame for reports to be submitted.

‘Lethargy’

A week after the High Court ordered suspension of the commission, retired Justice Regupathi resigned claiming that the delay in the probe was due to the “administrative lethargy of the Registry of the Madras High Court.”

In an interview to The Hindu , Mr. Justice Regupathi said the comments passed by Mr. Justice Subramaniam while suspending the commission were unwarranted, highly reprehensible and erroneous and “that has sharply damaged the reputation of all the commissions of inquiry”.

All documents relating to the commission have been handed over to the DVAC

Vijay Narayan

Advocate General