Maya statues: SC issues show-cause notice to UP Govt

“Notice to show-cause why the petition should not be admitted,” a vacation bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Ganguly said and sought reply within four weeks from the Uttar Pradesh Government,Mayawati,BSP and Election Commission which are named as respondents in the PIL filed by Supreme Court advocate Ravi Kant.

Kant alleged that the total money used by Mayawati from the state budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10 for such projects was to the tune of Rs.2,000 crore to “falsely glorify” the Chief Minister.

No sooner the order was issued,Mayawati’s close aide and senior advocate Satish Chandra Mishra voiced his protest but the Bench said whatever he has to say he can to do it by way of reply to the notice.

Mishra,who resisted the issuance of notice,alleged that “it is a politically interest litigation filed at the behest of others (political rivals)” noting that even before the petition came up for hearing,the petitioners had gone before the media.

He said notice at this stage would open a larger issue relating to the use of public land and made a selective reference to Teen Murti Bhavan in the capital saying the land itself cost over Rs 500 crore.

However,the Bench was unmoved and said “whatever you have to say you can say it in the reply”.

It reminded Mishra that it has only noted the allegations in the PIL which said “hundreds of crores of rupees” meant for developmental work were being used by the UP Government for personal glorification of leaders and installing their statues.

Before Mishra,senior advocate U U Lalit,appearing for the state goverment,contended that it was not the case for issuance of notice as the apex court in the past had passed orders in favour of the state government on the same issue which the petitioners are not aware.

Lalit was responding to the Bench which wanted to know from him whether he would like to file a reply to the PIL.

He said the issue has been going on for the past two years and “every single expenditure has been approved by the House (State Assembly).