Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Special Judge, Anti-Corruption Court, Kashmir M L Manhas today convicted Ghulam Ahmad Dar, the then Director Horticulture Department Kashmir and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for five years and fine of Rs 50,000 under Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the Vigilance case, Ghulam Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Rehman of Thanna Mandi by abusing his official position as Director Horticulture, Kashmir from November 1997 to June 1998 made backdoor appointments of 111 against Class IV posts and also regularized services of 14 daily wagers.
“The prosecution has succeeded in proving charge against accused beyond reasonable doubt for commission of offence of criminal misconduct under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006”, the Court said, adding “it is fact that corruption in a civilized society is a disease like cancer, which if not detected in time, is sure to lead to disastrous consequences”.
“The evil of corruption has persistently crept into various levels and this hydra headed dragon of corruption has to be lynched at the earliest otherwise it is going to shake the socio-economic fabric. It should be paramountly born in mind that corruption at any level does not deserve either sympathy or leniency”, the Court said, adding “the law does not so countenance and rightly so because corruption corrodes the spine of a nation and in the ultimate eventuality makes the economy sterile”.
“Backdoor and illegal appointment in public offices either for consideration or on the basis of favouritism have breached the trust of society and particularly educated youth who are the future pillars of the nation and in this manner they are bound to collapse under distress, frustration and exploitation”, the Court observed, adding “the menace of corruption, therefore, needs to be dealt with iron hands and the public servants involved in such practices should be shown no leniency in awarding punishments which should be a measure of deterrence in future of others”.
With these observations, Court convicted the accused officer and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for five years and fine of Rs 50,000 under Prevention of Corruption Act.
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