Scam accused on PAC chair; Railways gets HC notice

Patna High Court issued a notice to Indian Railways on Tuesday on a petition challenging appointment of former Rashtriya Janata Dal minister and accused in multi-crore bitumen scam Illiyas Hussain as chairman of Passenger Amenities Committee of the Indian Railways.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice J N Bhat and Justice Nagendra Roy issued notices to the Railways and Hussain to submit reply by August 30.

The public interest litigation, filed by an advocate P K Shahi, on behalf of a socio-political organisation "Lok Morcha", sought annulment of the order appointing Hussain as chairman of PAC of the Indian Railways.

Lok Morcha had questioned the propriety of conferring the honour on a person who was facing several criminal cases, including the bitumen scam, and sought his removal. Hussain was removed from the state cabinet in connection with the bitumen scam and he also went to jail. He is currently on bail in the case.

The court would next hear the matter on August 30.