Taj Corridor scam: SC seeks Mayawati's response

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on a plea seeking her prosecution in Taj corridor scam case without sanction of the Governor. The apex court, which issued notice on a petition challenging the Governor's refusal in 2007 to grant sanction for her prosecution in the Taj Corridor scam, has asked Mayawati to file a reply to the petition in four weeks.

Earlier in November 2012, the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had dismissed all the Public Interest Litigations (PIL) against her and Siddiqui in the case. Several PILs had been filed challenging the Special CBI court order that dropped the proceedings against her.

Passing the order, the bench comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and Ashwani Kumar Singh said all petitions were devoid of merit and were accordingly being dismissed. The special CBI court had in June 2007 dropped proceedings against Mayawati and Siddiqui for lack of prosecution sanction, which was not granted by the then Governor. The Taj corridor project was launched by Mayawati in 2002 to beautify the adjoining areas near the Taj Mahal.

Rs. 17 crore were allegedly released and the construction work began without the necessary environmental clearances. In 2003, the Supreme Court ordered the CBI to conduct an enquiry into these allegations. (ANI)

This is a very good example how the requirement of sanctions is misused by politician to get away with graft and corruption.

If any sanctioning authority refuses sanction, it should give in writing why it is refusing sanction within one month of receiving the petitions for sanction.

The authority should not be allowed to sit on the petition just like our President sits of the petitions of death row convicts.

Any petition should be disposed off in a limited time frame.

This was one of the points which Anna and his group raised.