Supreme Court directs Akhilesh Yadav govt to decide soon on taking over Shivpal Singh’s college

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“You (state) have created an asset after infusing Rs 100 crore into it. It has to be a government-controlled institution now… It is your institution now and you must take over the management,” the bench told senior advocate Harish Salve, who appeared for the state government.

The court was critical of the fact that the state government had in 2002-03 released from its ‘contingency’ fund Rs 100 crore for this college in Etawah district in connection with the birth centenary celebrations of Chaudhary Charan Singh, but later “one particular family” managed it through a society. The money was released when Mulayam was the chief minister.

Activist M N Rai filed a PIL against release of money from the state contingency fund for a college run by a family-owned private society. The court had appointed senior lawyer Mahalakshmi Pavani as amicus curiae. On Tuesday, Pavani cited the latest affidavit of the UP government, stating that the land belonged to them. Pavani maintained that the college must be taken over by the state.

Finding favour with her submission, the bench first questioned Salve if any other institution had ever been given money from the contingency fund. “Was the money released because of the centenary celebration or just because one particular family was involved?” it asked.

Salve replied that no other institution had received such funds, but added that this was the only college in the name of Chaudhary Charan Singh in UP and that is why the money was given. About its connection with “one particular family”, Salve responded: “Some questions are better left unanswered… that is the reality of present day politics. I would not want to pretend and say no.”

Salve said the government would take a call on taking over the college’s management. “We will want to do it on our own. We may do it by a statutory order in case they oppose. If we fail to do it, this court could pass an order.”