Badal’s donation to alma mater not under ambit of Punjab Nirman: Govt

While defending Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal donating Rs 1 crore to his alma mater, Lawrence School in Himachal's Sanawar, the Punjab government on Thursday "conceded" before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the grant was not strictly within ambit of "Punjab Nirman Programme" but was given after approval by the state cabinet.

An affidavit, submitted by Principal Secretary (Finance) Satish Chandra, following a PIL by former MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, stated that the money was donated to the school because it was a reputed institution with the distinction of having a maximum number of youth of Punjabi origin studying since Independence.

It was decided that a grant of Rs 1 crore be given to this school as financial assistance for its new development works to upgrade the existing infrastructure, the affidavit added.

Responding to petitioner's argument that funds for Punjab Nirman Programme approved by state Assembly for development within Punjab cannot be donated as grant, the affidavit stated that the Constitution did make a provision for it.

The government also said that under Article 205 of the Constitution, there was a provision of submitting supplementary demands before the legislature after getting approval from the Governor, and the procedure will be followed in this case.

Punjab Advocate General Ashok Aggarwal told the Bench: "As assured by me, the cheque has not been encashed. It is lying with me." The court adjourned the case till November 8.

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