The Bombay High Court has dismissed a plea filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ravindra Waikar, in which he sought equal allocation of Maharashtra Local Development (MLD) funds. He alleged that the funds were distributed in a discriminatory manner, favoring constituencies represented by ruling parties.
The court, in its ruling, emphasized that the allocation of funds for various works in different localities is an administrative function guided by state policy. It added that judicial review of an administrative function could not be carried out due to the lack of sufficient material to assess the reasonableness of the decision. The division bench, comprising Justices Sunil B Shukre and Rajesh S Patil, found no substance in the petition and dismissed it.
The MLD funds are designated for each MLA and MLC to aid in the development of their respective constituencies. These funds are allocated through the District Planning Commission for various purposes, including the reallocation of slum dwellers, their rehabilitation, and the enhancement of basic infrastructure in municipal corporations and urban development in slums.
Previously, on March 30, the high court had granted interim relief, instructing the state government not to disburse any remaining balance under MLD funds pertaining to the MLA’s plea. This interim relief was extended over time.
In his plea, Waikar, represented by advocates Satish Borulkar and Siddhasen Borulkar, pointed out that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) had allocated significant amounts for various projects. However, the allocation list for these funds appeared to favor constituencies represented by ruling parties, including the BJP, the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Republican Party of India. Waikar contended that the allocation of public funds was “discriminatory and arbitrary.”
