Govt rules out transferring cases to Fast Track Courts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 29: In a big question mark on the performance of the State Vigilance Organization and Crime Branch, over 260 corruption cases involving more than 500 Government servants registered during the past three years have failed to reach the logical conclusion till date.
Astonishingly, the Government has ruled out transfer of such cases to the Fast Track Courts and wanted the same to be dealt by the courts already entrusted with the powers to deal with the cases pertaining to J&K Prevention of Corruption Act.
As per the official figures, a total of 216 cases were registered by the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) against more than 500 Government servants under J&K Prevention of Corruption Act during the period between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017.
Of these, 113 cases were registered by the Vigilance Organization Jammu (VOJ) and 103 by Vigilance Organization Kashmir (VOK). However, all these cases have failed to reach logical conclusion till date due to the slackness on the part of premier investigating agency of the State.
Majority of these cases are still ‘under investigation’ both by the VOJ and VOK while as in respect of many cases departmental inquiry has been recommended or initiated but without any result. There are also a large number of cases whose status has been shown as ‘challaned/ sub-judice’ or ‘under legal examination’. In some of the cases the investigation by the VOJ and VOK has been stayed by the High Court but no steps have been initiated to get the interim orders of the High Court modified or vacated.
Due to failure of the premier investigating agency to take these cases to the logical conclusion large number of Government servants facing serious allegations of corruption have remained unpunished. Most of these officers and officials are even enjoying prime postings. Even certain cases wherein Government officials were booked for demanding and accepting bribe in only hundreds of rupees have not been challaned despite lapse of three years.
The most common allegations in these cases are demand and acceptance of bribe for performing official duties, misappropriation of funds, abuse of official position for conferring undue benefits upon conspirators, illegal appointments, preparation of fake certificates, ordering promotions in violation of norms, possessing disproportionate assets, manipulation of records to obtain and confer undue benefits, extension of benefit of Government schemes to ineligible persons and purchases on exorbitant rates.
These startling revelations were made by none else than the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is also Minister Incharge General Administration Department in the Legislative Assembly in response to the question of MLA Ch Qamar Hussain.
Not only State Vigilance Organization even the Crime Branch is soft-paddling on the cases of corruption registered during the past three years. A total of eight cases of corruption are pending for investigation with Crime Branch Kashmir while as 44 cases are pending with Crime Branch Jammu.
Majority of these cases are ‘under investigation’ despite lapse of considerable period of time while as in respect of others either accused are yet to be arrested or record is yet to be collected by the Investigating Officers.
The allegations in these cases include grabbing of Government land, fake distribution of compensation, embezzlement of food grains and illegal withdrawal of money from Government exchequer etc.
The officers and officials facing corruption charges are of the rank of Chief Engineers, Executive Engineers, Doctors, Tehsildars, CDPOs, Programme Officers, Directors, Custodian General, Town Planner, General Managers, Chief Education Officers, Tehsil Supply Officers, Naib Tehsildars, Food Inspectors, Managing Directors, Zonal Education Officers, Chief Agriculture Officers and Soil Conservation Officers etc.
There is hardly any Government department whose officials have not been booked by the Vigilance Organization or Crime Branch for indulging in corrupt practices.
When asked about transfer of all pending corruption cases to Fast Track Courts, the Chief Minister said, “there are four courts of Special Judge Anticorruption in the State. In addition to this, there are two Special Courts of Anticorruption (CBI cases)”, adding “Additional District and Sessions Judges across the State have been entrusted with the powers to deal with the cases pertaining to the Prevention of Corruption Act”.
“Moreover, several directions have been issued by the High Court from time to time for time bound disposal of these cases which include a latest Circular No.55 of 2017 dated January 7, 2017”, she further said, adding “presently there is no proposal pending consideration regarding transfer of corruption cases to the Fast Track Courts”.
About the cases pending disposal with the State Accountability Commission, the Chief Minister said, “91 cases are at the stage of preliminary scrutiny while as four cases are at the stage of regular enquiry”, adding “in three cases record has been summoned/ called by the High Court in pending writ petitions”.
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