NC-Congress regime patronized corruption, allege experts Governor asks SVO, SVC to act tough, corrupt in dock Fazal Khan Early Times Report Srinagar, Jan 20: The Governor N NVohra has sent a strong message to corrupt elements by asking the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) and State Vigilance Commission to expedite the investigation in the corruption cases and get the erring officials prosecuted within the stipulated timeframe. Pertinently State Vigilance Organization (SVO) on Monday revealed that it has registered 79 cases against 240 public servants, including 106 gazetted officers, in one year across Jammu and Kashmir. While briefing the Governor N NVohra about the functioning of the SVO, secretary to Government, General Administration Department (GAD), Muhammad Ashraf Bukhari, informed the Governor that more than 200 officials have been found involved in corrupt practices during the past one year. On the other hand Chief Vigilance Commissioner, KuldeepKhoda informed the Governor that SVC received 1,157 complaints against the corrupt officials. The Governor N NVohra after getting the feedback directed the SVO and SVC to expedite the investigation in the corruption cases and get the erring officials prosecuted within the stipulated timeframe. Experts believe that figures revealed by the SVO and SVC are just a tip of the iceberg as many cases of day to day corruption go unreported. If all the cases are reported and people come forward with their complaints number of corrupt officials would figure in thousands, an expert told Early Times. He claimed that corruption increased manifolds during the past 6-years of NC-Congress rule in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials irrespective of their ranks took full advantage of the weak political leadership at the top and left no stone unturned to make the hay while sun was shining, the expert alleged. If a proper investigation is conducted and the scams which J&K witnessed from 2008 to 2014 are opened and reinvestigated it can spell doom for the officials and the ousted ministers, said a source. He alleged that corruption was rampant during Omar regime and everyone from top to bottom used to get his share. The former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as head of the state never bothered to peep into the system and see what was happening under his very nose. Had he acted tough and taken stern action against a few corrupt officials it could have proved to be a deterrent for others. Lack of accountability and top bosses not showing any interest to act encouraged corrupt elements to earn as much as they could, the source alleged. He said the SVO during all these years failed to catch any big fish and anti-corruption drives remained confined to a few people only. Just go through the records you wont find any top names in the list as they used their influence and saved their skin, the source added. Pertinently, Governor N NVohra reviewed the functioning of SVO and also took feedback from the CVC KuldeepKhoda in Jammu on Tuesday and asked the officials to take stern action against corrupt elements irrespective of how influential they are. On the contrary Omar Abdullah during his six year rule couldnt find much time to review the SVO functioning or seek feedback from the CVC. Omars incompetence, his lackadaisical approach and he not acting tough encouraged the corrupt officials and they indulged in unfair means without any fear, opined an expert. He said on the contrary just a few days after the Governor N NVohra took the reins of the state he gave a strong message to the corrupt elements to mend their ways as they are being watched.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 08:45:09 +0000