New Delhi, Dec 11 : The Supreme Court on Friday termed a plea for a Lokpal-monitored investigation into the criminal-political nexus highlighted in the 1993 Vohra Committee report the “painting of an utopian situation” and declined to entertain it.
A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy, after a brief hearing, however granted the petitioner the liberty to move the Law Commission.
“I hope the country will be at the top.I hope the world is a beautiful place.The prayers are like these,” Justice Kaul remarked during the hearing.
He added that the court cannot encourage petitions like these.“These are all utopian prayers,” Justice Kaul observed.
Senior Advocate Anupam Lal Das, representing petitioner-advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, submitted that the petition raises the issue of unholy nexus of criminals, politicians and bureaucrats.
The bench pointed out that the report is very old as more than two decades have gone by since the report was filed.
Das however insisted that no concrete steps have been taken so far and argued that though there is a Lokpal or ombudsman, but it has no investigation wing or wherewithal to take action.
The bench said: “Look at your prayers.They are all utopian.You should write a book on it, don’t file a petition on this.”
The plea had sought direction to the Centre to hand over the 1993 report to top investigative agencies — National Investigation Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office — to conduct a comprehensive probe into the criminal-politician nexus.
Justice Kaul noted the court did not encourage petitions that are meant for publicity, but rather these must serve some purpose.
Das said that he will withdraw the petition and sought permission to move the Law Commission.
The petitioner had sought concrete action on the report submitted by then Union Home Secretary NN Vohra on the links between politicians, crime syndicates, and bureaucrats.
The plea had urged the top court to directed the Centre to reveal the identities of criminals, politicians, and public servants against whom tangible evidence in the report exists and through special courts fast-track all the cases.
The plea had also sought direction to the Centre to grant investigation powers to the Lokpal
.
