Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 11: After poor response from the Government, High Court today directed it to file response to the amendment of Anti-Corruption Act by the end of this month.
The Division Bench of High Court comprising Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and M H Attar directed: “Response has not been filed in compliance of earlier order. The directions are reiterated with a further observation that the respondents shall expedite the process and file response by or before December 30.”
Earlier last month, the Government had informed the court that it is amending the Anti-Corruption Act and recommendations to this effect are being sent to the General Administrative Department (GAD) within one week for Cabinet sanction.
The court had given seven suggestions to the amend the Act which included awarding maximum of 20 years and minimum of 6 years in jail under Section 5 (2) of the Act, making bail provisions stringent and parallel to Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act.
One of the suggestions made to make the act strong is: “In case after receipt of report/record from the Vigilance Organization, the competent authority does not accord sanction for prosecution within a period of one month, it shall be deemed that sanction for prosecution has been granted.”
The others suggestions include posting and appointing of more trained Investigation Officers in Vigilance Organization and prescribing outer time limit for conducting investigation; ensuring that once the charge is framed, trial shall continue on day to day basis till its conclusion and lastly Investigation Officer shall be made responsible to ensure attendance of the prosecution witnesses before the trial court.
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