[Police vehicle scam] Meghalaya HC issues suo motu contempt notice against State Home Secretary

The Meghalaya High Court recently issued suo motu rule of contempt against the Secretary in the Home Department of the State for deliberately disregarding order of the court in a Public Interest Litigation pertaining to an alleged police vehicle scam. 

The bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh made the rule returnable on November 2, 2022 while ordering the department to ensure that the rule is drawn up immediately and personally served on the State Home Secretary.

Court issued the contempt notice as the officer failed to file 'proper report' as sought by the court through order dated September 30, 2022 indicating the effective measures taken against the accused and guilty in the matter. 

Court observed that though a report had been filed on October 17, 2022, it was "perfunctory and most insulting".

The report sought was supposed to indicate the effective measures taken, including the arrest of those who were prima facie found to be involved in the racket to prevent them from attempting to remove the assets or funds involved in the scam, however, the report filed only stated that the police department had initiated departmental proceedings against the erring officers.

Being displeased with such act of the state authorities, court issued the contempt notice against the State Home Secretary.

Court further ordered that a detailed report should be made available before it on the next date of hearing stating the quantum of the perceived loss, the extent of the abuse of authority, the manner of misuse of vehicles and the prima facie affixation of responsibility in the matter. 

"It is hoped that the State deals with the matter with the seriousness that it deserves," Court said. 

The present Public Interest Litigation filed by former diplomat Riewad V. Warjri and another citizen alleged illegal procurement of vehicles by some officials of the Police Department in the recent past. 

The petitioners claimed that different vehicles had been purchased by the Police Department since 2019 without any valid sanction from the competent authority and also 29 official vehicles were in the personal custody of the then Assistant Inspector General (Administration) of the Meghalaya Police.

The petitioners have also expressed their concern that despite there having been some hue and cry after the matter surfaced, attempts are being made to cover up the entire episode.

When the petition was received by the high court on September 30, 2022, the State had submitted that an inquiry had been conducted into the matter and the steps to be taken pursuant to the inquiry were under consideration. To this, the court had sought the abovementioned report. 

Case Title: Riewad Vicharwant Warjri & anr vs State of Meghalaya & ors