Bombay HC Clears CMRF Use, Cites No Misuse Found

The Bombay High Court, in a July 31 ruling, stated it cannot oversee the disbursement of the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) but expressed hope that the funds are used strictly for their intended purpose without deviation. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO Public Concern for Governance Trust, which alleged the CMRF was being misused for purposes beyond its original intent, such as funding cultural halls, sports tournaments, and personal loans to political and social groups.

The NGO argued that the CMRF, initially established to aid victims of natural calamities, should remain restricted to that purpose. However, the state government countered that the fund’s objectives were expanded in November 2001 to include support for other incidents due to growing demands. The government emphasized that the CMRF operates transparently, with transaction details accessible via the Right to Information Act, and its accounts are audited with income tax returns filed regularly.

The court noted that broadening the CMRF’s objectives is a state policy decision and found no legal barrier to this expansion. It rejected the petitioner’s call for a committee to manage disbursements and an audit, affirming that transparency is maintained through existing mechanisms. The ruling underscores the court’s stance that while it cannot monitor the CMRF, public access to information ensures accountability, leaving the fund’s management to the state’s discretion.

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