SC rejects PIL on 'misuse' of funds for laptops by judges

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea seeking probe into the alleged misuse of funds allocated for purchase of computers for judicial officers of courts in Delhi.

The apex court also pulled up the petitioner for approaching it without knowing about the steps already undertaken by the Delhi high court chief justice after the issue cropped up.

"Do you know what the High Court has done," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy asked while elaborating on the measures taken by High Court chief justice G Rohini to enquire into the allegations.

"The high court is looking into it and the chief justice (of Delhi HC) has constituted a sub-committee to look into the allegations," the CJI said.

Justice Dattu said, "After coming to know about it, I contacted the high court chief justice. She constituted a committee to look into it. Without knowing about it, you came with Article 32 petition (before SC)."

The bench rejected the PIL which sought a probe into the alleged scam by a court-monitored special investigation team or the CBI, claiming that judges of the lower courts in Delhi were sanctioned Rs 1.1 lakh each to purchase computers, laptops or iPads.

However, many of them had allegedly used the money for buying devices like television sets and home theatre systems, it alleged.

The plea, filed by law student V Anand, also prayed for a direction to be issued to the high court to furnish the status report on the inquiry being conducted by its panel.