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Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that the petition filed by advocate Arvind Waghmare should be dismissed.
A similar petition against setting up of the PM CARES fund was dismissed by the Supreme Court in April, he informed a division bench of Justices S B Shukre and A S Kilor. The bench, however, noted that the petition before it was seeking different reliefs, and directed the Union government to file an affidavit in response to the plea within two weeks.
“File an affidavit stating whatever is your (Union government’s) stand,” the court said. Waghmare in his petition sought a direction to the government to declare funds received and expenditure of the same on the government’s website periodically.
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“As per the guidelines of thePMCARESFund, apart from the chairperson and three other trustees, the chairpersonhad to appoint or nominate three more trustees. However, from the formation of the trust on March 28, 2020, till date no appointment has been made,” the petition claimed. The petition has sought a direction to the government and the trust to appoint or nominate at least two members from opposition parties to have proper checks and transparency. “In order to fortify and strengthen the general public faith and confidence, it is necessary to issue a direction to the government to declare the funds collected by PM CARES trust till date, and how the same has been used for the benefits of citizens affected by the coronavirus,” the plea said.