Civic body’s ‘gift’ proposal irks Andhra High Court

Hyderabad: A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the High Court has expressed dismay over the GHMC decision to gift Apple iPads to 150 corporators and co-option members (members nominated by the corporators) and Samsung Tablets to some media-personnel.

The bench was dealing with a PIL by Mir Mohd Ali, of the Aam Aadmi Party, challenging the decision taken by the Standing Committee of the GHMC to gift Apple iPads and Samsung Tablets worth Rs 72.45 lakh.

Responding to the plea on Monday, the Chief Justice asked the GHMC to explain under which law it was permitted to offer gifts to corporators and others.
Justice Sengupta said, “The corporation on the one hand says that it has no funds to clear garbage and on the other it spends huge amounts to give gifts to corporators.”

The bench pointed out that the GHMC had failed in keep the city clean by removing garbage and maintain the vehicles used for garbage lifting. The GHMC counsel said that it was only a proposal made by the Mayor and the GHMC commissioner had not yet approved it. The bench then directed the GHMC to file a counter affidavit in a week.