Bhubaneswar: In an important decision, the Cabinet today decided to cancel all allotments made under discretionary quota since January 1, 1995. It also decided to conduct a Vigilance probe into the cases of multiple allotments.
Moreover, the Cabinet, in its meeting held at Secretariat here, also decided that even the allotments made under the quota by General Administration department before the said date would come under a special audit now.
Emerging from the meeting, Law minister Arun Sahoo said the report of the Task Force, led by senior bureaucrat Tara Datta, has been accepted by the Cabinet.
BJD spokesperson Sameer Das has described the steps as “historic decision”.
Welcoming the decision, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said especially the step to conduct Vigilance probe against those who have filed false affidavits and got multiple allotments, is a great one.
“We hope the decision will be executed in letter and spirit instead of just putting it on paper and forgetting it later,” he added commenting that “this government is known for not implementing its decisions”.
However, his party’s newly-appointed State president Prasad Harichandan said the government took the steps “fearing adverse comments from the court”.
Opposing Vigilance probe, senior BJP leader Vijay Mohapatra said it is “not at all acceptable”.