Save Mon Region Federation & Anr. v. State of Arunachal Pradesh & Ors.

The Supreme Court of India ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary enquiry into the award of public works contracts in Arunachal Pradesh between 2015 and 2025. A public interest litigation (PIL) alleged that the state government bypassed competitive tenders to award high-value contracts directly to the relatives and associates of the Chief Minister and other top officials. A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report had also revealed major irregularities, including missing vouchers, lack of transparent tender records, and improper execution of works. The State of Arunachal Pradesh defended its actions by claiming that geographical challenges justified avoiding tenders, and that the share of contracts given to the relatives was very small. However, the Supreme Court rejected these arguments. The Court ruled that public resources are held by the government in trust for the citizens, and distribution must be completely fair and transparent. It emphasized that even a single instance of favoritism or conflict of interest violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution. Because the allegations involved high-level political figures, the Court decided that an independent investigation by the CBI was necessary to restore public faith in the system. The State must fully cooperate and hand over all relevant documents.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed alleging that the Arunachal Pradesh government repeatedly bypassed open tender processes. It claimed that high-value public contracts were given directly to the relatives and associates of the Chief Minister. A CAG audit report confirmed multiple missing records, missing financial vouchers, and non-transparent bidding practices.

The Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register a preliminary enquiry within two weeks. The investigation will cover government contracts awarded from 2015 to 2025, specifically looking into allegations of nepotism and missing records. The State must hand over all documents to the CBI within four weeks and ensure no records are destroyed.

This judgment reinforces that public money and resources belong to the citizens, and the government cannot distribute them arbitrarily to friends or relatives. It establishes that even minor corruption or single instances of nepotism violate constitutional rights, ensuring stricter accountability in government projects.