LG administration to examine list of ‘corrupt, dishonest’ officers to increase transparency

Srinagar, Sep 12: The Lieutenant Governor Manooj Sinha led administration has directed authorities involved in review of corruption cases to examine a list of deadwood and dishonest officers to increase trust and transparency in the system.
The direction comes amid LG Manoj Sinha’s promise over the fixing accountability of government officers.
Highly placed sources told news agency KINS that the details of officials with dubious integrity is likely to be taken up and the government will examine vigilance reports, data available about the officers in the departments for the legal action.
“A strong directive will be issued to all the departments to carry out a review of deadwood and corrupt officers,” sources maintained.
LG Manoj Sinha recently in a message had said that “emphasis must be on putting in place effective preventive measures and spreading awareness to eradicate corruption.
Meanwhile one of the top officials in the Anti-Corruption wing Kashmir told KINS that they have clear instructions from the higher-ups to ensure that investigation into all the corruption cases as well as other pending FIRs is completed as expeditiously as possible so as to pave the way for presentation of challans in the Anti-Corruption Courts and securing maximum conviction,”
Sources said in the coming months the focus of the investigating agencies will also shift on the officials, who have amassed huge wealth through illegal means.
“Even the former officers involved in corrupt practices will not be spared and they will be thoroughly investigated,” sources revealed.
Sources said that after the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a sharp rise in registration of corruption cases against higher officials involved in alleged malpractices.
Sources reveal that around 150 FIRs have been registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) since July, 2019 against officials, which include, some chief engineers, superintendent and executive engineers, and senior officers of forest, health, rural development and other departments.
Sources said that fresh cases were registered against those officers, who were of the opinion that they will never be touched after committing huge frauds due to their close proximity with the then ruling class of the erstwhile state.
The allegations against officers, which formed the basis for registration of FIRs, include misuse of official position, demand and acceptance of bribe, illegal appointments, embezzlement of funds, allowing of illegal constructions by obtaining pecuniary benefits, possessing disproportionate assets, tampering of official records, facilitating encroachment of government land, use of sub-standard construction material, vesting of ownership rights of land illegally and forgery etc.
It is to be mentioned here that the Centre’s Prevention of Corruption Act in Jammu and Kashmir has stringent provisions to combat corruption.
Anti-graft bodies were working under Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, which has been replaced by Centre’s Prevention of Corruption Act.
There are certain provisions under this newly implemented Act which empowers anti-graft bodies to fight with corruption in the new Union Territory.
“In order to influence a public servant, by corrupt or illegal means, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall be not less than three year but may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine”.
Under this Act, abetment by a public servant of offences shall be punishable with imprisonment not less than six months but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.
“Any public servant, who commits criminal misconduct, shall be punishable with imprisonment not less than one year but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine,” the Act reads.