LG for ‘no significant’ posting to tainted government officials

Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Oct 02 (KINS): Tightening noose around corrupt officials, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has issued directives asking concerned authorities to refrain from giving significant positing to tainted officials.
Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that Sinha has expressed his concern over the growing corruption in government departments.
“He has directed concerned authorities not to give significant postings to those officials against whom cases have been registered by any anti-graft bodies,” a top source in the Civil Secretariat said. “He has given clear directions that officials against whom cases have been registered shall not be given significant posting until they get a clean chit from anti-graft bodies. If any official is found guilty, Lieutenant Government has directed that action should be taken against him as per the rules,” the source said.
The source said the government has taken a serious note how officers facing corruption charges were awarded plum postings. “Sinha has also sought the list of officers who are facing charges of corruption. He wants himself to monitor the progress of these cases,” the source said.
Since Sinha took over LG of Jammu and Kashmir, action has been taken against several officials.
The government had earlier issued a circular, where the chief vigilance officers and departmental vigilance officers of all departments were directed to ensure completion of the enquiries pending with them “expeditiously”.
“They shall develop strong internal vigilance mechanisms in their respective departments to eradicate the menace of corruption at all levels,” the circular reads.
The source said departmental heads have been directed to ensure speedy disposal of cases.
The anti-graft bodies are awaiting disposal of hundreds of complaints that are pending with various government departments.
Sources said Sinha has directed that prosecution sanction should be expedited so that the corrupt officers didn’t manage to take advantage of the delay.
Over the years hundreds of cases have been sent to different government departments for action on the basis of evidence collected. However, it has been found that several departments were delaying the process resulting in the anti-graft bodies having not taken any action against these officials involved in wrong doings.
The government had earlier decided to order premature retirement of “corrupt and incapable” officials, who have not been able to deliver in their respective departments.(KINS)