DVAC has become virtually defunct, says HC
CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST
CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 00:00 IST
Says no significant action was being taken against corrupt public officials
The Madras High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had become virtually defunct in the State. No significant action was being taken against corrupt government officials who not only demanded and accepted bribes but also showed undue favours, a Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam observed.
The judges expressed their concern to Advocate General Vijay Narayan during the hearing of a writ appeal preferred by Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner against a single judge’s order to replace all police officials manning its vigilance cell.
The AG brought to the notice of the court that as of now one Deputy Superintendent of Police and two Inspectors of Police were managing the vigilance cell. Stating that all the three were efficient and diligent, he said there was no necessity to transfer them out and bring in new officials.
Study HC model
Surprised that the Corporation with an employee strength of around 17,000 (including labourers) had just three police officers to manage its vigilance cell, the senior judge in the Bench suggested that the Corporation could study the vigilance mechanism in place in the High Court and implement in the civic body too.
Being the chariman of the High Court’s vigilance committee, Mr. Justice Sathyanarayanan said there would be around 2,000 judicial officers and around 8,000 employees serving in the High Court as well as subordinate courts in the State. Yet, the court vigilance cell had two Superintendents of Police and host of other officers.
Whenever, a complaint was received against judicial officers or the court staff, discreet enquiries were conducted through the police officials as well as the court officers before initiating action. “The Registrar (Vigilance) of this court reports directly to the Chief Justice and not to any other judge,” he pointed out.
Wondering whether the Corporation officials cracked down even on a single unauthorised construction in the city on their own, the judge said a peep into the streets right opposite to the High Court campus would show how many unauthorised constructions were thriving merrily.
‘Not active at all’
Impressing upon the Corporation and other government arms to implement a stringent vigilance mechanism, the judge said, the DVAC in the State did not appear to be active at all.
“All that the DVAC has been doing is to write letters to the government departments recommending departmental action against the officials concerned,” he said.
Later, the Bench stayed the single judge’s order to transfer the vigilance cell officials of the Corporation and directed the latter to file a comprehensive report on the enforcement mechanism that had been put in place in the local body to keep a check on unauthorised constructions and act against them without any delay.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had become virtually defunct in the State. No significant action was being taken against corrupt government officials who not only demanded and accepted bribes but also showed undue favours, a Division Bench of Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and P. Rajamanickam observed.
The judges expressed their concern to Advocate General Vijay Narayan during the hearing of a writ appeal preferred by Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner against a single judge’s order to replace all police officials manning its vigilance cell.
The AG brought to the notice of the court that as of now one Deputy Superintendent of Police and two Inspectors of Police were managing the vigilance cell. Stating that all the three were efficient and diligent, he said there was no necessity to transfer them out and bring in new officials.
Study HC model
Surprised that the Corporation with an employee strength of around 17,000 (including labourers) had just three police officers to manage its vigilance cell, the senior judge in the Bench suggested that the Corporation could study the vigilance mechanism in place in the High Court and implement in the civic body too.
Being the chariman of the High Court’s vigilance committee, Mr. Justice Sathyanarayanan said there would be around 2,000 judicial officers and around 8,000 employees serving in the High Court as well as subordinate courts in the State. Yet, the court vigilance cell had two Superintendents of Police and host of other officers.
Whenever, a complaint was received against judicial officers or the court staff, discreet enquiries were conducted through the police officials as well as the court officers before initiating action. “The Registrar (Vigilance) of this court reports directly to the Chief Justice and not to any other judge,” he pointed out.
Wondering whether the Corporation officials cracked down even on a single unauthorised construction in the city on their own, the judge said a peep into the streets right opposite to the High Court campus would show how many unauthorised constructions were thriving merrily.
‘Not active at all’
Impressing upon the Corporation and other government arms to implement a stringent vigilance mechanism, the judge said, the DVAC in the State did not appear to be active at all.
“All that the DVAC has been doing is to write letters to the government departments recommending departmental action against the officials concerned,” he said.
Later, the Bench stayed the single judge’s order to transfer the vigilance cell officials of the Corporation and directed the latter to file a comprehensive report on the enforcement mechanism that had been put in place in the local body to keep a check on unauthorised constructions and act against them without any delay.
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