PM CARES verdict body blow to transparency: Cong

August 18, 2020 15:27

The Congress on Tuesday said the Supreme Court's judgement on the PM CARES Fund is a "body blow to transparency and accountability" of the government to the people. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Apex Court let go an opportunity to bring in transparency in the fund which has "its own opaque and murky rules" and, thereby, deviated from the belief that "sunlight is the best disinfectant".

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to direct the Centre to transfer the contributions made to the PM CARES Fund for battling the Covid pandemic to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan said that voluntary contribution can always be made to the NDRF as there is no statutory bar under the Disaster Management Act.

Reacting to the verdict, Surjewala said, "The SC judgment is a body blow to transparency & accountability of Govt to people. It marks a sad letter day for responsibility & answerability of rulers to the electorate and remind them that they are not 'Monarchs' but 'servants of the people'." "SC scrupulously believed that 'sunlight is the best disinfectant'. Today, the Court, in a departure from that tradition, passed up an opportunity to demand answers on the #PMCaresFund that seeks public money but plays by its own opaque & murky rules," he said in another tweet.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

'My Instinct Told Me I Couldn't Have Made Better Choices'

'My inner instinct tells me that RCB have the best chance to go for the IPL Trophy. Onward and Upward. Best of luck.'

RBI makes govt richer by Rs 2.11 lakh crore

The Reserve Bank on Wednesday approved a Rs 2.11 lakh crore dividend payout to the central government for 2023-24, more than double the amount it paid for the previous 2022-23 financial year. The decision was taken at the 608th meeting...

A Peek Into Sobhita's Cannes Diary

Sobhita Dhulipala shares her Cannes diaries with her fans.

'SRH will continue to play aggressive brand of cricket'

SRH will get another chance to secure a spot in the final in Qualifier 2 when they take on the winner of the Eliminator between RCB and RR.

290 cases of Covid variant behind surge in Singapore found in India

As many as 290 cases of KP.2 and 34 cases of KP.1, both sub-lineages of COVID-19 that are responsible for surge in cases in Singapore, have been found in India, according to official data.