Jaipur, June 18: Questioning the spending of public money when the state was under severe financial strain, Rajasthan High Court has sought justification from the centre and the state government for the forthcoming visit of chief minister Ashok Gehlot to the United States. Treating newspaper reports about Gehlot`s proposed visit to United States as a public interest litigation, Justice S K Keshote yesterday issued notices to the state and the central governments seeking justification for the next month`s trip. The notices were issued to state`s chief secretary, additional secretary (finance), and to union of India through secretary, external affairs, asking them to furnish replies by June 30. While issuing the notices, Justice Keshote questioned spending of public money on the proposed visit to New York by a team of ministers and officials led by chief minister to attend the international Rajasthani Sammelan, scheduled to start on July three when the state was under severe financial strain due to drought for the fourth year in a row. The proposed visit is already mired in controversy with central government refusing to grant permission and the state government insisting that the visit would bring investment from non-resident Rajasthanis to the desert state.

Bureau Report