SC asks UP Congress to deposit ₹1 cr for hiring buses, taxis for rallies during 1981-1989

Senior advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for the Congress, said the petitioner is assailing the findings of the high court as the total amount of 2.68 crore is disputed...

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the UP Congress to deposit 1 crore as arrear towards hiring buses and taxis from UPSRTC during 1981 to 1989, when the party was in power in the state, for ferrying supporters for political rallies and visits of then prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.e)..

A bench of justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and the UPSRTC on a plea of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) and directed the party to deposit 1 crore within four weeks..

The high court has referred to various communications and bills and noted a letter dated April 2, 1981, of UPSRTC which showed that a bill of over Rs. 6.21 lakh was raised for kisan rally organised by Uttar Pradesh Congress on February 16, 1981, and similarly another communication dated December 16, 1984, shows that a bill of 8.69 lakh is due for providing vehicles for ferrying people to pay homage on November 19, 1984, to the ashes of late prime minister Indira Gandhi..

The UPCC had initially taken a ground before the high court that the amount cannot be recovered under Section 3 of the U.P. Public Moneys (Recovery of Dues) Act, 1972, as there is no agreement relating to any loan to be recovered as land revenue or advance or grant or relating to credit in respect of, or relating to higher purchase of goods sold to petitioner by UPSRTC which would empower the corporation to recover the said sum under the 1972 law..

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