The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Centre,the Uttar Pradesh government and the CBI to file replies on a PIL seeking a CBI probe into alleged financial irregularities in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state. The Lucknow Bench,comprising justices Pradip Kant and Devendra Kumar Upadhaya,issued the order on a PIL filed by a local scribe,petitioner's counsel Gaurav Mehrotra said. The PIL sought directions for a CBI inquiry into alleged embezzlement of funds earmarked for MGNREGS in seven districts - Kushinagar,Gonda,Sonebhadra,Mirzapur,Sant Kabirnagar,Mahoba and Balrampur districts. The Bench fixed January 3 for further hearing on the matter,the counsel said.
