Can’t shut eye to rampant corruption: SC on CWG

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the Commonwealth Games project has bred corruption and is meant for public purpose only till October 14 — the closing day of the Games — after which “everything” will be used for “private purpose”.

“Till October 14, Commonwealth is a public purpose — thereafter, everything will become private purpose,” a Bench of Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly observed.

Declaring that it would not shut its eyes on the “rampant corruption”, the court criticised the government on its preparations for the international sporting event.

The court cited the recent collapse of the new foot-overbridge near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium like a “pack of cards” as an example of the quality of the infrastructure work done for the Games.

“In this country, payments are made without work being done. The newly constructed bridge collapsed like a pack of cards,” the Bench said. “Rs 70,000 crore is involved. There is rampant corruption. We cannot shut our eyes,” the court said.

The oral observations were made during the hearing of a case filed by the Archeological Survey of India, highlighting government lapse in permitting certain buildings to exist near Jantar Mantar against ASI’s monument conservation laws.