HC quizzes state on earnings of Godhra riots panel chief’s son

Ahmedabad Mirror: Ahmedabad:  Tuesday, June 12, 2012.

A division bench of Gujarat High Court on Monday questioned the state government on the huge jump in earnings between 2008 and 2012 for the son of Justice (retd) G T Nanavati who is heading the post-Godhra riots probe commission.

The observation was made when a reply under RTI Act revealed that Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Maulik Nanavati’s annual income had jumped to Rs 15,55,800 in 2012 from a meagre Rs 60,975 in 2008.

The court adjourned the hearing of a public interest litigation challenging extension given to Nanavati Commission on June 28 after advocate general placed on record RTI report of the earnings of Maulik who works as an APP.

The court was hearing the conflict of interest as on one hand Justice Nanavati heads the riots panel and on other hand his sons Maulik and Dhaval Nanavati defend the state government.

The application was moved by advocate K G Pandit stating that the state government favours Maulik and Dhaval in terms of payment. The court had earlier sought the details of the payment made by the state government to Maulik and Dhaval.

On Monday, Trivedi placed on record the RTI report of Maulik that stated that in the past six years, Maulik had been paid Rs 27.2 lakh for representing Gujarat government. After going through the RTI report, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala asked the state government how could Maulik have an annual income of Rs 60,975 in 2008 and Rs 15,55,800 in 2012.

Government Pleader Prakash Jani submitted, “For example, in criminal matters, every day there would be 150 bail applications listed. Out of which, even if 100 are found worth admission, the concerned APP will get Rs 40,000 for that particular day as he gets Rs 400 for one case.”

He further added, “As a government pleader, I place every APP in a court for a month alternatively. Therefore, it is not the case that Maulik has been favoured by the state government. APPs are also AGPs. Hence, when the same person conducts civil matters, the payments get differed.”

There are seven APPs who have earned than Rs 10 lakh in 2011-12, he added. Hence, the state government goes with requirements and not favours. In this case, the image is being tarnished, he said.