The Hyderabad High Court pulled up Telangana's Minority Welfare Department on Wednesday, and asked it to submit the details of the funds being spent for the annual 'Iftar party', being organised by the state government.
The court was hearing a plea filed by social activist Lubna Sarwath, who questioned the state's move, and termed the iftar party 'unconstitutional'.
Pointing out that the funds were meant for the welfare of poor minorities, including Muslims, the Times of India reported that the petitioner's counsel told the court that the state was wasting several crore rupees on the upcoming annual party on June 18.
The TOI report adds that the petitioner also contended that none of the GOs issued by the state, revealed the actual amount of money that was being spent.
Citing GO 144, the petition stated, “As per the GO, the government wants to host Iftar in 420 mosques across the state. Hence, such extravaganza should not be permitted."
"It was submitted that a grandiose dinner in the name of 'iftaar party' is thrown by the Telangana government for VVIPs, since the past 3 years, and thus funds meant for 'minority welfare' is neither going to minorities nor to welfare. It was submitted that Chief justice and Chief Minister were partaking from this lavish menu hosted from 'minority welfare' funds," Lubna later said.
The case will come up for hearing again on Thursday.
In February this year, Lubna had filed a petition with the High Court, to declare Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's offerings to gods and temples using taxpayer money, as illegal.
"I want to know who paid for the travel expenses of the officials and the chief minister’s family, who went with him for the 'thanksgiving trip' to Tirupati. We want a white paper with a list of all the expenses incurred from government funds in the form of offerings for religious purposes. The expenses for his family, relatives and ministers should be from their own pockets, and not from public money," she had told TNM at the time.