Chennai, Jul 18 (PTI) The Madras High Court today condemned the Tamil Nadu government for continuously allocating funds to the commission of inquiry appointed to probe into the alleged irregularities in construction of the new Secretariat building, which was stayed by the court in 2015.

"The operation of the commission headed by a former judge was stayed by the court in 2015. While so, why is the state spending huge amounts for the commission and its staff for over three years now," Justice S M Subramaniam wondered.

The judge, noting that when there were allegations of irregularities in constructing a public building, said a case must have been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act and investigation must have been handed over to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC).

Having said that, the judge wondered as to what was the need to appoint the commission to probe into such allegations.

Will it not affect the trust people have in the judiciary, he said and then posted the plea to July 26 for passing final orders.

The matter pertains to the construction of the Secretariat in the Omandurar government estate by the then DMK government.

After the change of government, the AIADMK government converted the complex into a multi-speciality hospital.

Further alleging large-scale corruption and irregularities in the construction, the government appointed the Justice Ragupathy Commission to probe into the allegation.

The commission sent a questionnaire to be answered by former chief minister M Karunanidhi, former deputy chief minister M K Stalin, former minister Duraimurugan in connection with the allegations.

Immediately, the DMK approached the high court challenging the proceedings of the commission.

Admitting the plea, the court stayed the functioning of the commission in 2015. The case which was pending in the high court for the past three years was listed before Justice Subramaniam today.

When the plea came up for hearing, the judge, appalled over the fact that the state government was still spending huge amount for a commission which was already stayed by the court, censured the government for draining the public exchequer.

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