The resolution said, “It is beyond the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta to expect from the Rural Development Department to amend the guidelines for disbursal from Vidhyak Nidhi. The House resolves that the government should not proceed on the suggestions made by the Lokayukta and should also take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of such things.”
The Congress leader alleged that such suggestion by the Lokayukta was an act of infringement on the rights of the legislature. The House should, therefore, pass the resolution opposing the move of the Lokayukta and even ask the Constitutional body not to interfere in the internal matters of the legislature, he added.
In UP, each MLA gets Rs 1.25 crore under Vidhayak Nidhi for developing his constituency. The Rural Development Department regulates the expenditure regarding the fund.
In the past, there have been instances when MLAs have sanctioned grants from Vidhayak Nidhi for institutions run by them or their family members. Lokayukta Justice (retd) N K Mehrotra is conducting investigations into alleged misuse of Vidhyak Nidhi by two ministers. He had recently summoned officials of the Rural Development Department to testify whether the disbursal of funds from Vidhayak Nidhi to a private institution was in violation of the guidelines. However, the resolution gave a different twist to the matter and sought to turn it into an issue of interference in the Assembly’s internal matters.