Taking recourse to Section 8 (1) (h) of the J&K State Vigilance Act of 2011, Secretary State Vigilance Commission has issued a circular to all Government Departments, PSUs, banks and other agencies over which the Commission has jurisdiction to make payments including salaries of employees through Electronic Clearance System generally called e-payment and e-receipts. The instructions include making payments to all suppliers, vendors, contractors and refunds of various nature and other payments which the Organizations routinely make.
This is a measure to check corruption. The contention is that generally payments are delayed intentionally. The intention is to continue corrupt practice of asking for bribes. The practice of delaying clearance of payments inordinately has been continuing with almost all departments of the Government. Repeated complaints to the authorities to find ways of eradicating this menace have failed. The Vigilance Commission deserves three cheers for taking a bold initiative. It has instructed all departments that wherever electronic and internet facilities are available, the new system should be introduced forthwith. It has also recommended that the facility of internet should be provided to centres where it does not exist at the moment but three month time limit has been given for shift over from manual handling of payments to electronic payments.
Sitting on files and payments has been the old practice of corrupt Government functionaries. It has been one of the major causes of delay of payments. It helps inefficiency creep into the system and creates feeling of anger and hatred against the Government machinery. It is often said that there exists a nexus between the lower establishment, the clerical staff and the higher echelons. While various steps have been taken to allow the top bureaucrats little chances of indulging in underhand tricks, the clerical staff has become incorrigible. However we know that in far-flung rural segments of the State electronic facilities are not available at present. The instruction circular of the Secretary of the Commission has taken that situation into consideration and has directed that manual handling or paying through cheques system may to continue till a reasonable time when the shift is made to e-system. The instruction manual in question will instill the recipients of payment with satisfaction that they will no more be asked to dish out bribe money to get their cheques released for payment.
We have already the Services Act in place which empowers higher authorities to call for the explanation for allowing inordinate delay in deciding a case or for intentionally making cases get delayed. This plus the step taken by the Vigilance Commission should go a long way in eradicating corrupt practices of seeking and giving bribes in Government offices.
It is possible that those who were in the habit of misusing the practice of making payments by cheques will not feel happy on this new and drastic dispensation. They will try to resist it and make a thousand and one pretexts. But since it is a policy matter with the Government they cannot bypass the instruction.
While one will appreciate a right step to minimize chances of corruption, yet to assume that this will be a panacea to corrupt practices in vogue over long time is too simplistic a proposition. Those who will find illegal means of earning extra money blocked will surely try to find other ways of delaying the payment of cases. The Government should also think of imposing a time bar on clearing outstanding payments. In case of default and a complaint from the affected person, exemplary action should be taken against the defaulter. Nevertheless, the decision will bring relief to the stakeholders and they have now a lever in their hand to claim early clearance of their bills and payments.
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