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| Why are SIC, SAC defunct ? | | | Early Times report
Srinagar, Jan 14: Corruption has gained alarming proportions in Jammu Kashmir and there is no punitive, remedial or reformative action available in the system. The frustrated youth in the state seem to have no role models in society and totally feel bewildered.
Unfortunately, the State Information Commission (SIC) and the State Accountability Commi-ssion (SAC) have let down the people. The government has not shown any intent to come down on corruption even in cases clearly established. The SIC and the SAC seem to be toothless tigers as both the commissions have their own internal and well as external problems. The SIC was Constituted by the present NC lead Government after J&K RTI Act 2009 was enacted replacing erstwhile J&K RTI Act 2004 and J&K RTI Act 2008. RTI Act 's main aim is to ensure transparency and accountability in day-to-day functioning of the government. But the SIC has turned to be a "toothless tiger" after being constituted more than 2 years back.
On one side the strong bureaucracy has clipped Commission's wings by repealing JK Rules-2010 and on the other hand SIC is facing severe shortage of staff and other resources . According to the sources within the Information Commission the issue has been repeatedly raised with the Govt over the past two years without results. Presently the State Information Commission lacks 18 staffers particularly Junior Assistants , Under Secretaries and Legal Assistants.
The State Accountability Commission was established in 2003 when PDP- Congress coalition ruled the state . This commission continues to face government's one kind of wrath as it has indicted several top Ministers on the charges of corruption from last many years but all
these Ministers obtained stay orders from various courts. Till date the state Government has not responded to the Commission's repeated pleas to strengthen it with full-fledged
investigation wing headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police.
It is important to mention that Governor N N Vohra in 2011 had asked the State Government to fill up the vacancy of the second member of the Commission at the earliest butnothing happened till date . In his letter The Governor had said that there is need for the urgent appointment of the second member of the State Accountability Commission and filling up the vacancies in other Commissions," Till now the State Government remained unmoved and is sitting over appointing the second member. The SAC is mandated to frame charges against top guns including Chief Minister, Cabinet Ministers and MLA's is without minimum required staff. Presently out of many vacant gazette-cadre posts only three have been filled up against five in the past one year and out of 28 non-gazetted posts 16 continue to be vacant,. The State Accountability Commission cannot take the pro active or suo moto cognizance of any issue due to failure of the state government to empower the commission .
Not only the Ministers, MLAs , MLCs even the Chief Minister of J&K is accountable and answerable before the State Accountability Commission (SAC) which has been created under the provisions of JK State Accountability Commission Act 2002. But notwithstanding this fact both the commissions continue to be defunct. |
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