Departmental action against employees in corruption matters
*594 faced action, 118 suspended in 21 deptts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 15: Even several months after explicit directions from the High Court and repeated reminders from the General Administration Department, 18 departments including Revenue, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Housing and Urban Development and Education are reluctant to reveal information about the departmental action taken against the employees involved in the corruption cases.
However, in 21 other administrative departments the departmental action has been taken against 594 employees and 177 have been placed under suspension for being booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In Court on its Own Motion Versus Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Others, the High Court had on July 21, 2020 directed the General Administration Department to furnish information about the departmental action taken against the Government employees involved in corruption matters and the status thereof and if no such action was taken the reason thereof.
Similarly, the High Court had sought information about employees placed under suspension on account of their being booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and whether employees involved in cases for serious offences were granted further promotions and other benefits and at that stage whether the factum of registration of FIR against them for serious offences was part of the note put up for consideration.
Further, the High Court wanted to know from the General Administration Department whether retrial dues have been paid to such employees on their superannuation.
On receiving these directions, the General Administration Department vide letter dated August 4, 2020 requested all the 39 administrative departments to furnish the requisite information. Even a copy of the directions of the High Court was shared with the concerned Administrative Secretaries for strict compliance.
Thereafter, the General Administration Department sent reminders dated August 11, 2020, August 25, 2020 and October 23, 2020. However, only 21 Administrative Departments furnished the requisite information and 18 departments are still reluctant to divulge the details for the reasons best known to those who are at helm of affairs.
“The General Administration Department is vigorously pursuing the matter with the concerned departments whose information is still awaited and will be placed before the court for its consideration the moment same is received from the departments”, reads the status report submitted to the High Court.
The departments which have not furnished information even after explicit directives of the High Court and repeated reminders from the GAD are Revenue, Rural Development, Jal Shakti, Planning, Development and Monitoring, Housing and Urban Development, Higher Education, School Education, Labour and Employment, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Finance, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Cooperatives, ARI and Trainings, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Science and Technology, Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs.
As per the general perception, several departments in the list of 18 are known for the corrupt practices and always remain under the radar of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and after regular intervals the ACB books their officials for indulging in the corrupt practices.
“How can such a large number of departments remain reluctant in furnishing information about the corruption matters even after clear-cut directions from the High Court remains a million dollar question and warrants immediate intervention of Chief Secretary”, sources stressed.
As per the status report of the General Administration Department, in 21 departments the departmental action has been taken against a total of 594 employees while as 177 officials have been placed under suspension after being booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Of 594, maximum departmental actions have been taken in the Home Department (377) followed by Industries and Commerce and Health and Medical Education Departments (52 each). In Tourism Department, action has been taken against 31 officials while as in Power Development Department 24 employees have faced departmental action. Likewise, 14 employees each in General Administration Department and Public Works Department have faced departmental action for being involved in corrupt practices.
Of the total 177 officials who have been placed under suspension as a result of being booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act the maximum 118 are in Home Department followed by 21 in Industries and Commerce and 12 in Public Works Department.
The Government has claimed that no employee involved in the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been granted promotion and other benefits. Similarly, it has mentioned “nil” in the status report about the details of employees retired from service/details of retirees in whose favour retirement benefits taken.
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