Chandigarh, December 3
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today turned down a plea for an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India into the purchase of “RAXIL” fungicide for treatment of seeds.

The order on the plea of the Bhiwani Sudhar and Vikas Samiti came nearly eight months after former Managing Director of the Haryana Seeds Development Corporation (HSDC) Ashok Khemka was transferred after he questioned the efficacy of the fungicide.

In the application placed before Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal, the NGO had asked for CAG assessment of the actual loss caused to the public exchequer. Dubbing the fresh application as “useless”, the high court verbally questioned the rationale behind filing the application when a similar prayer was made for the CBI probe earlier by the NGO.

Bayer Crop Science India Limited had earlier defended the sale of “RAXIL 2DS” fungicide, saying it had the approval of Khemka. The company also said it had no role in the decision-making process; and a high-level purchase committee of the Haryana Government had decided to purchase it. Moreover, the fungicide was an international product sold in 55 countries.

The petitioner had earlier alleged the fungicide was purchased at exaggerated rates using grants provided by the Union Government. It had also alleged foul play by government officers in the case.

According to the petitioner, on October 6, 2010, in a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Haryana Chief Minister, the decision to use RAXIL 2DS was taken without any supporting scientific data. The use of RAXIL 2DS was made compulsory for control of loose smut, flag smut and Karnal bunt diseases in wheat seeds, before the seeds can be certified by the state seed certification agency. The decision was arbitrary and it aimed at deriving wrongful pecuniary benefits, it was alleged.

• RAXIL fungicide was purchased for treatment of seeds
• Former Managing Director of the Haryana Seeds Development Corporation Ashok Khemka had questioned the efficacy of the fungicide
• Alleging the purchase was made at exaggerated rates, the Bhiwani Sudhar and Vikas Samiti, an NGO, had sought a CAG audit of the purchase
• Questioning the rationale behind filing the application, the high court termed the plea as “useless”