New Delhi, July 02: LG gave his nod to a proposal moved by the Directorate of Vigilance to initiate action under Rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules against SR Meena, who was then an Executive Engineer in the PWD in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of classrooms under the Aam Aadmi Party government.& is currently posted with the Central Public Works Department in Amritsar.
The case dates back to 2018-19 and involves infrastructure projects undertaken under the Centre’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, aimed at augmenting school facilities across Delhi.
Aa total of Rs 38.37 crore was sanctioned for the construction of 226 classrooms in Delhi government schools. Instead of constructing 20 classrooms at a school in Tri Nagar, part of the sanctioned amount was used to build a multi-purpose hall at Rani Bagh without the required administrative and financial approvals, which constitutes diversion of funds and procedural violation.
The matter surfaced following a public interest litigation filed in the Delhi high court by a civil rights group on June 11, 2019. The PIL sought court intervention to ensure that six newly constructed school buildings were handed over for use. This prompted the then Chief Secretary to initiate an inquiry in March 2024, after the case resurfaced during a review of delayed infrastructure utilization.
A fact-finding report submitted in May 2024 flagged serious lapses not only by the PWD, but also the education department, which failed to conduct proper feasibility studies & the department did not verify the availability of unencumbered land before approving the construction, which in some cases led to double allocation of funds for the same space.
While proceedings have now been initiated against Meena, the case against another accused officer was dropped as time-barred due to his retirement.
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