Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 12: Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather has said that Government has taken number of steps to curb the menace of corruption and to bring transparency in the working of Government.
Replying to a question by Abdul Gani Malik in State Assembly today in the House, the Finance Minister said that State Vigilance Commission has been made functional by appointing a Chief Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners and Government has notified the J&K State Vigilance Rules 2013 to fully enforce the provisions of the Act.
The Finance Minister said that the State Cabinet recently approved J&K Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2014 which is being introduced in the current session of the State Legislature to make anti-corruption laws more stringent.
The Minister said that Government has empowered 7 Additional District Courts to deal with cases, falling under the J&K PC Act, Samvat, 2006 for speeding up the trial in corruption related cases. He said by enacting the Public Services Guarantee Act and adopting the Results Framework Document (RFD), the Government has undertaken two significant good governance initiatives, aimed at providing a mechanism for the timely delivery of public services and ensuring transparency and efficiency in the Government Departments.
The Minister said that RTI Act has been enacted and strictly enforced and made fully functional. He said J&K Accountability Commission Act 2002 has been amended to focus its jurisdiction to the Ministers and Legislators of the State, adding that Government has also appointed the Chairman and a Member of the Commission to focus on corruption among the political class.
The Finance Minister informed that Government has also enacted J&K Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 2010, which reflects the resolve of the Government to deal with the menace of ‘Benami’ transactions. He said E-tendering and E-procurement, to make the allotment of works and procurement of materials competitive and transparent, have been introduced in the major development oriented departments of the Government.
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