Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 19: Acting tough on corruption in the Government Departments and inordinate delay in according sanction for prosecution of corrupt officers, Governor NN Vohra today issued a series of directions to Chief Secretary BR Sharma and the General Administration Department (GAD) to submit detailed reports to him on status-quo of various cases of investigations including decision on sanction of prosecution by the morning of February 23. He also directed that cases pertaining to compulsory retirement of deadwood officers/officials be placed before the Designated Committees by March 15.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Governor acted tough on the reports that there had been inordinate delays in according sanction of prosecution by the GAD to the State Vigilance Organization (SVO), delaying presentation of challan in several cases against the Government officers and officials.
Though GAD Commissioner/ Secretary Gazzanfar Hussain gave detailed briefing to the Governor on number of cases registered and sanctions accorded by the Department to the SVO, sources said, the Governor directed that prosecution sanction should be expedited so that the corrupt officers didn’t manage to take advantage of the delay.
Referring to the cases awaiting sanction for prosecution against both gazetted and non-gazetted officers in various Departments including the GAD, the Governor directed the Chief Secretary and the Commissioner/Secretary GAD to take decision in all cases pending for sanction of prosecution in all the Departments and submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) to him positively by the morning of February 23.
Announcing more measures in the meeting against non-performing officers, Vohra directed top brass of the administration to place the cases due for compulsory review under Article 226 in various departments before the Designated Committees by March 15. Under Article 226, the Government has to identify the deadwood officers/officials (non-performers) and give them compulsory retirement.
He also sought report by February 29 on completion of Annual Performance Reports (APRs) of all Government employees with regard to each department. Such a direction had earlier also been issued by the Governor but this time he has fixed the deadline of February 29 for placing the report before him.
He directed the Commissioner/Secretary GAD to ensure that websites of all the Departments were immediately updated.
“Entire relevant information required under Right to Information (RTI) Act should be regularly updated on websites of all the departments,’’ he directed.
Vohra announced that he would be shortly holding review of all anti-corruption related issues with the top brass of the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) and State Vigilance Organization (SVO).
He asked the Commissioner/Secretary GAD to energize the vigilance framework in the State to ensure transparent and responsible public service delivery.
The Governor directed the Chief Secretary to issue directions to all the Administrative Secretaries in the form of a Circular to personally review all pending vigilance matters in their respective departments and submit consolidated reports to the Raj Bhawan on fortnightly basis.
The Commissioner/Secretary GAD informed the Governor that 91 First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered during 2015 involving 158 gazetted and 118 non-gazetted officers and officials. He said sanction for prosecution has been recommended in 32 cases, which included 22 gazetted officers and 40 non-gazetted officers while sanction has been accorded in 22 cases involving five gazetted and 39 non-gazetted officials. He added that 22 cases have been challaned against 12 gazetted and 47 non-gazetted officials.
He informed the Governor that investigations in 10 cases was concluded in 2015 resulting into conviction of one gazetted and 10 non-gazetted officials.
Follow our WhatsApp channel