New Delhi, December 1st, 2011
The National Human Rights Commission has reiterated its recommendatory order to Jharkhand Government that it pay back Rs. 20,05,33,210/- to the Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) which is wrongfully held by it. This money was deposited in excess of the stipulated amount by the RINPAS in the State Treasury on specific directions of the then Health Secretary of the State.
The Commission is not satisfied by the responses of the State Government that it has already compensated more than the excess amount thereby spending a total of Rs.32,28,00,000/- provided as budgetary support to RINPAS. It has observed that the Commission expects an appropriate clarification from the State Government within one month and if it is not received it may have to summon the Chief Secretary of the State again for clarification.
The Commission has observed that "allocation of funds by the State Government as grant-in-aid for RINPAS is an ongoing process. It is primarily meant for patients coming from the State of Jharkhand. It is nothing to do with the funds which were diverted by RINPAS to the State Government. That amount was received from various States for treatment of patients coming from those States. The primary question is whether the amount which was received from other States and transferred to the State Government on the specific direction of the then Health Secretary has been refunded or not. Thus, the primary question has not been answered."
The Commission took suo motu cognizance of the issue after the matter came to its knowledge the Regional Review meeting of Mental Hospitals in the Eastern region on the 5th June, 2009 at Ranchi with special focus on the functioning of the RINPAS.
The Commission had asked the Chief Secretary of the State to refund the amount to RINPAS and having received no response to this effect two summons for his personal appearance were issued. However, on both dates, i.e. on the 19th September, 2011 and the 21st November, 2011 he did not appear and requested exemption from the same. However, two reports were sent by the State Government thereby only explaining that "though Rs. 20,05,33,210.00 excess amount was deposited in the Treasury, the Government of Jharkhand has been supplementing with the Plan and Non-Plan fund to meet different developmental works required at RINPAS…………thus the Government of Jharkhand has compensated more than the excess amount transferred to the State Government account from RINPAS."
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