Naidu sanctions Rs 1.2,000 cr development fund for UP

May 6, 2017

Lucknow, May 6: The Centre on Friday sanctioned Rs 1,263 crore for Uttar Pradesh in a bid to include the state in the all-India development agenda.

Setting a new trend by visiting the state to review its requirements, Union urban development and I&B minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the sanctioned amount included the first instalment of funds to cities under Smart Cities scheme.

"Since the Modi government is determined to make the country developed, development of the state is essential," Naidu said, adding that unfortunately, the previous government didn't cooperate with the Centre as was required. "I am not making allegations as people of the state have already replied through their mandate," Naidu said. He though added that the Yogi government was moving in right direction. "Our priority is to remove UP from the list of Bimaru states," Naidu said, adding that while reviewing the schemes, efforts were also made to resolve the issues. The Union minister said that the funds released on Friday included Rs 119 crore for Lucknow, Rs 107 crore each for Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi as first instalment under the Smart City scheme, while Rs 2 crore each had been sanctioned for Meerut and Rae Bareli to prepare a proposal to become part of the scheme.

Naidu said that the amount would also fund the Amrut scheme named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "While the first and second instalments have already been released, the third instalment of Rs 300 crore was sanctioned today," Naidu said. He said that Ayodhya has also been added under the Amrut scheme, taking the total to 61 cities.Similarly, under the Urban Transport scheme, Rs 446 crore in total had been given for Lucknow Metro as part of Centre's equity.

"The CM has also given assurance that RERA, which has been passed by the Parliament, will be implemented and has also given a commit ment to appoint a Real Estate Regulatory Authority," Naidu said, adding that the issues highlighted by the CM pertaining to builders in Noida and Greater Noida would be sorted out after the regulatory authority is formed in UP.

Naidu said that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wish to provide houses to all by 2022, but the state is lagging in construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna. "Despite writing 11 letters to state governments, only proposals for only 11,000 houses were received from UP, as compared to proposals for 1.9 lakh units from Andhra Pradesh and 2.3 lakh units from Tamil Nadu," he claimed.

"It is because of this that I have asked the chief minister to send more proposals for 2017-18," Naidu said, adding that proposals for at least five to six lakh units are expected for this fiscal from UP . Elaborating, Naidu said that besides the interest rebate of 6.5 per cent for the poor, the Centre would give an aid of Rs 2.3 lakh for construction of houses to women. Similarly , as per the Prime Minister's announcement of 'Sabka Sapna Ghar Ho Apna', a four per cent rebate would be given to middle class families earning between Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. Similarly, a three per cent rebate in interest would be given (up to Rs 12 lakh) for those who are earning between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh. Hitting out at the previ ous UPA government, Naidu said: "Picchhli sarkar mein ghosna hoti thi, poshna nahin hoti thi, Modi government mein ghosna ke saath saath poshna bhi hoti hai" (The previous government made announcements, but did not deliver, while the Modi government is delivering too).

He said that the Centre has also started credit rating system to rate cities, which would help in promoting investment. Under the Amrut scheme, ESL organisation would be roped in, Naidu said, adding that the organisation would help in replacing street lights with LED and pump sets which are power friendly . Chief minister Aditya Nath Yogi added that at some places the organisation has already been directed to begin the process.

Referring to the 73rd and 74th amendment of the Constitution, Naidu said that the funds meant for the projects from the Centre should go directly to local bodies, which has not been the case until now. He said that the CM has given an assurance that a decision would be taken in this regard after the issue is reviewed. "A decision has also been taken to regularise all the unauthorised water connections under Amrut scheme. The amount for regularisation has to be taken in instalment," Naidu said.

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‘Pay the worker before his sweat dries’: Madras High Court cites Prophet Muhammad’s teaching while ordering settlement of dues

News Network

December 21,2025

Invoking the teachings of Prophet Muhammad—“pay the worker before his sweat dries”—the Madras High Court has directed a municipal corporation to settle long-pending legal dues owed to a former counsel. The court observed that this principle reflects basic fairness and applies equally to labour and service-related disputes.

Justice G. R. Swaminathan made the observation while hearing a petition filed by advocate P. Thirumalai, who claimed that the Madurai City Municipal Corporation failed to pay him legal fees amounting to ₹13.05 lakh. Earlier, the High Court had asked the corporation to consider his representation. However, a later order rejected a major portion of his claim, prompting the present petition.

The court allowed Thirumalai to approach the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and submit a list of cases in which he had appeared. It also directed the corporation to settle the verified fee bills within two months, without interest. The court noted that the petitioner had waited nearly 18 years before challenging the non-payment and that the corporation could not be fully blamed, as the fee bills were not submitted properly.

‘A Matter of Embarrassment’

Justice Swaminathan described it as a “matter of embarrassment” that the State has nearly a dozen Additional Advocate Generals. He observed that appointing too many law officers often leads to unnecessary allocation of work and frequent adjournments, as government counsel claim that senior officers are engaged elsewhere.

He expressed hope that such practices would end at least in the Madurai Bench of the High Court and added that Additional Advocate Generals should “turn a new leaf” from 2026 onwards.

‘Scandalously High Amounts’

While stating that the court cannot examine the exact fees paid to senior counsel or law officers, Justice Swaminathan stressed that good governance requires public funds to be used prudently. He expressed concern over the “scandalously high amounts” paid by government and quasi-government bodies to a few favoured law officers.

In contrast, the court noted that Thirumalai’s total claim was “a pittance” considering the large number of cases he had handled.

Background

Thirumalai served as the standing counsel for the Madurai City Municipal Corporation for more than 14 years, from 1992 to 2006. During this period, he represented the corporation in about 818 cases before the Madurai District Courts.

As the former counsel was unable to hire a clerk to obtain certified copies of judgments in all 818 cases, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to collect the certified copies within two months. The court further ordered the corporation to bear the cost incurred by the DLSA and deduct that amount from the final settlement payable to the petitioner.

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