| Cases against former, sitting Ministers, legislators, bureaucrats pending before anti graft bodies | | | Bashir Assad
JAMMU, Feb 20: From incumbent to former Ministers, legislators and bureaucrats scores of complaints of corruption are pending disposal and conviction in different anti-graft bodies of Jammu and Kashmir.
In detailed written reply provided by the Government, to a question by MLAs MY Tarigami of CPI(M) and Choudhary Zulfkar Ali of PDP in the State Assembly, Government today said that at least 46 people including incumbent and former Ministers and legislators, senior bureaucrats are facing corruption charges in State Accountability Commission in 8 cases.
The Government said the politicians facing charges of corruption in SAC include Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma, former Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Deputy Chief Minister, Abdul Majid Wani, R&B Minister, GM Saroori, former Minister, Abdul Gafar Sofi, former Minister, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, former Minister, Ghulam Mohiuddin Sofi, former Minister, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan Minister for CAPD and Suman Lata Bhagat, former Minister.
Top bureaucrats facing charges of corruption in SAC include, Sonali Kumar, IAS the then Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education, Ejaz Iqbal IAS, the then Director CAPD, Jammu, PS Betab, IAS, former Director CAPD, Najam-ul-Saquib, the then Commissioner Secretary Forest, Daleep Thussu, the then MD, JKPCC, JP Singh, former Secretary Khadi and Village Industries Board, R L Bharti, the then MD SFC.
Government said that 88 cases of corruption were pending in anti-graft bodies including SAC and State Vigilance Organization in Jammu division while as 84 cases are pending before SAC and Vigilance organization in Kashmir division. The Government said, 32 cases have been registered in 2011, 36 in 2012 and 23 in 2013 against bureaucrats, politicians and public servants.
About the cause of delay in providing adequate staff for the newly constituted anti-graft bodies like State Vigilance Commission and State Accountability Commission, the Government said some staff has already been provided to SVC. It said a proposal for the creation of 82 posts falling in different categories was received from the SVC which was thoroughly examined by it (Government). The creation of such a large component of staff on a permanent basis is not possible.
The Government said SVC was accordingly requested to expedite a fresh proposal in consonance with the Government decision for further course of action. The Government, however, said that adequate staff has already been provided to the SAC. The Government further said that 40 cases have been registered under Prevention of Corruption Act against public functionaries/officers and officials since January 1st in Crime Branch Jammu while as 18 cases have been registered with Crime Branch Kashmir during the same period.
The Government further said, 13 officers/officials were prematurely retired from Government services on the recommendations of the High Power Committee constituted Vide Government Order No. 32-GAD (Vig) of 2011.
However, while going through the list of the officials against whom cases of corruption are pending before different investigating agencies, one could find that many of the accused are enjoying pivotal postings in the administration. |
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