Petition filed over alleged irregularities in district planning fund allocation

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A petition challenging alleged irregularities in the allocation of funds through the district planning committee (DPC) has been filed before the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court. Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten Venegaonkar have issued notices to the Government of Maharashtra (GoM), the District Collector of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zilla Parishad, and the Municipal Commissioner, directing them to submit affidavits. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for April 18.

What the petition alleges

For the comprehensive development of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in the financial year 2025–26, the DPC had allocated ₹737 crore. The petitioner, MP Dr. Kalyan Kale, has alleged that the distribution of these funds did not comply with the Maharashtra District Planning Committee (Composition and Functions) Act, 1998, and the provisions of Article 243(Z-D) of the Indian Constitution.

During the hearing, it was stated that guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat bypassed legal provisions, constitutional obligations, and government-issued orders and circulars, giving approval for development works directly through letters on the district collector’s letterhead. This practice was alleged to be entirely irregular and unlawful.

Instead of considering proposals from grampanchayats, nagarpanchayats, zilla parishad, municipal corporation, and various government departments, and without discussion in the DPC, works were approved directly. Funds were distributed by breaking up a single project into parts rather than approving the full amount for one project, which could potentially affect the quality of work.

Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) had reportedly advised the district collector to approve the full fund for a single project instead of dividing it, but this was allegedly ignored.

Advocate Prasad Jarare represented the petitioners, while government pleader Amarjeet Singh Girase appeared for the State Government.