Corruption is deep rooted in the administrative structure of the State. Its uprooting is easy said than done. Even if the authorities are seriously inclined to deal with it with a firm hand, the people involved in corrupt practices are clever enough to find an escape route. 147 cases of departmental enquiries are pending with different government departments. The General Administrative Department has deposed before the Divisional Bench that despite its exhortations and repeated reminders to the departments concerned, it is not receiving the desired response to the query of what is the status of enquiry into alleged cases of corruption. This kind of deposition of the GAD before the Divisional Bench makes it public that there is somewhat of a breakdown in the administration of the state. When the departments defy the instructions of higher authorities, it is the beginning of anarchy and chaos. The GAD has deposed that not only the departments are not cooperating in disposing of alleged cases of corruption; they have even promoted the tainted officers and posted them to lucrative positions. This is indicative of utter imbecility of General Administrative Department, which is coordinating agency for all departmental administrative policy of the State.
GAD’s deposition before the Divisional Bench endorses our contention that a nexus has come to be formed between the officers against whom allegations of corruption are leveled and the state functionaries who are charged with the responsibility of conducting enquiry. The people at large understand that the government has not the will to take on corrupt officers and functionaries seriously. If it were seriously interested in uprooting corruption, it has many options to enforce the rule of law. The Commissioner/Secretary to Government GAD cannot shove away the situation by just excusing himself behind the non-responsiveness of the concerned departments. He has powers and he has to use these if the intention is to provide good governance. Good governance does not mean shifting the blame but shouldering the responsibility of discharging duty in the best interests of the State. There are a number of punitive measures, which the Commissioner/Secretary GAD can suggest to the Government. Why it shuns its responsibility is not understandable.
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