Supreme Court on Campa Fund Case: The Uttarakhand government had to clarify before the Supreme Court on the allegations of misuse of CAMPA (compensatory afforestation fund management and plan authority) funds. In the Supreme Court, the state government clarified that most of the CAMPA funds have been spent on permissible objectives under environmental protection, afforestation and related rules. However, the government also admitted that there were minor irregularities in some cases, on which departmental proceedings had already been started.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court accepted the explanation of the state government and decided not to pursue the matter. The court said that even if there is a lapse, it is of negligible nature. However, the court warned the state government not to repeat such errors in future.
Citing CAG reports accused
The case of misuse of CAMPA Fund was raised when a petition, citing the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), was alleged that the Uttarakhand government used this fund in non-environmental works. According to the CAG report, the Uttarakhand Forest Department used Campa funds on iPhone, laptop, fridge, cooler procurement, renewal of buildings, court matters and administrative work, while the main objective of this fund was conservation and revival of forests.
‘Should be ignored as a minor lapse’
The petitioner claimed that the fund should have been spent only to maintain environmental purposes such as compensatory afforestation, conservation of water sources and maintain biodiversity, but the government misused it. During the hearing, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta told the court on behalf of the Uttarakhand government that only 1.8 percent of the CAMPA fund (about Rs 753 crore) was spent on non-environmental works. He argued that this amount is a very small part of the entire CAMPA fund and it should be ignored as a minor lapse.
7 lakh saplings were planted in Uttarakhand during the event
SG Mehta also told the court that the funds were used in many environmental projects, including afforestation programs, water conservation, wildlife conservation and prevention of soil erosion. Giving the example of Harela Festival, he said that during this event 7 lakh saplings were planted in Uttarakhand, which was connected for the purpose of compensatory afforestation.
What did the judge ask?
When the Solicitor General mentioned the purchase of stationery (register etc.) from the Campa fund, Justice B.R. Gawai commented, commenting, “Is your state so poor that he cannot allocate a separate amount for stationery?” On this, SG Mehta said that this expenditure was incurred under the administrative objectives of the forest department and it should not be considered a major violation.
The Supreme Court raised the question
The Supreme Court had questioned the delay in depositing the interest of Campa Fund. Giving clarification, the state government said that due to non -fixing interest rates by the central government, the amount of interest could not be deposited within the fixed period. SG Mehta said that, as soon as the central government issued a notification of interest rates, the state government deposited the amount of interest in the CAMPA fund.
Supreme Court ruled to close the case
After the hearing, the Supreme Court accepted the clarification of the Uttarakhand government and ruled to close the case. The court said that there has been some deviation in the use of CAMPA funds, but it is of a very modest level. The court ordered that in future the Uttarakhand government should ensure that the CAMPA funds are used only for environmental purposes and the amount of interest is deposited on time. The CAMPA fund was formed after the Supreme Court order to maintain environmental balance and to compensate for the loss of forests. The main objective of this fund is to compensate the projects for which forests are cut. Under this, afforestation, conservation of water sources, preventing soil erosion and wildlife security are done.
What Supreme Court gave instructions?
The Supreme Court gave clear instructions that the CAMPA fund should be used only for environmental purposes. The court directed the state government to deposit the amount on the basis of an estimated interest rate in the event of delay in determining the interest rate in future, which can later be adjusted according to the rate fixed by the central government.
Court gave this warning
Apart from this, the court also expressed the need to strengthen the strong committee constituted to monitor the CAMPA fund. The court directed the Central Government to complete the appointment and system of members of the committee soon, so that the fund can be used properly. Accepting the clarification of the Uttarakhand government, the Supreme Court stopped the case of alleged misuse of the CAMPA fund as a minor lapse. The court directed the state government not to misuse funds in future and interest amount should be deposited on time. The court warned that if any irregularity is found further, strict action will be taken.
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