Manpower constraints likely to be overcome shortly
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 16: Sending a loud and clear message that corruption will not be tolerated at any level in the State administration, Governor N N Vohra has directed the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) to go the whole hog against dishonest officers and book them under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act without any fear.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that after obtaining feedback from the Chief Vigilance Commissioner P L Gupta and Director Vigilance S J M Gillani about the functioning of these two anti-corruption bodies in the State separately few days back, the Governor has desired that no stone should be left unturned to tighten the noose around the dishonest officers in the administration.
The Governor has directed the State Vigilance Organization to identify the corrupt officers in the administration and proceed against them after following laid down procedure, sources said while disclosing that Governor has desired that ‘full scale’ drive against the menace of corruption should be launched from the higher level Government functionaries so as to allay the general perception that only ‘small fries’ are targeted by the State Vigilance Organization.
The instructions of the Governor have been conveyed to all the SSPs of the Vigilance Organization by the Director Vigilance and recent FIRs against Assistant Commissioner Development of the Rural Development Department Mohd Yousuf Malik and Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Shopian Abdul Majid Bhat on the basis of substantial material supporting corrupt practices has clearly established that Vigilance Organization has started working on the instructions of the Governor.
As desired by the Governor, the instructions have also been issued to the SSPs of the Vigilance Organization to ensure early completion of investigation in the FIRs with special focus on those registered in 2015 and earlier, they further said, adding “substantial progress in disposal of pending cases is likely as Governor has sought monthly progress report from the Director Vigilance in this regard”.
It is pertinent to mention here that EXCELSIOR in its edition dated July 6, 2018 had exclusively reported that majority of the FIRs registered by the State Vigilance Organization during the past three and half years are still under investigation and due to this, involved officers and officials have remained unpunished.
It was also reported that several among such officers are even enjoying prime postings in the administration much to the disappointment of those who have unblemished service record.
All the SSPs of the Vigilance Organization have geared up their activities to identify the corrupt elements on the basis of substantial proof so that action is taken against them under the provisions of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, sources informed, adding “it is a matter of concern that several corrupt officers in the administration who are on the radar of the Vigilance Organization were never considered for premature retirement by the political Government. Rather, they were given prize postings at the behest of the politicians”.
“It is hoped that during Governor’s rule the issue of manpower constraints in the State Vigilance Organization will also receive due attention”, sources said while holding manpower shortage responsible for delay in timely disposal of the cases by this anti-corruption body of the State.
They informed that each Branch SSP of the Vigilance Organization is having manpower equivalent to a small Police Post. “How with skeleton manpower timely investigation in the corruption cases can be ensured”?, sources asked.
“Since Director Vigilance has already apprised Governor about this major issue of the State Vigilance Organization, it is hoped that adequate number of officers will be deputed to this anti-corruption body from other wings of the Police Department in a time bound manner”, they said.
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