Govt Dept not acting on probe findings

NL Correspondent

SRINAGAR: The government departments have been delaying to act on the outcome of the enquiry reports of the State Vigilance Organization or their departmental probes.

An official of the General Administration Department, said the lack of coordination by the departments with the anti-graft body was putting halt to act against the tainted officials.

“There are complaints that departments have been delaying to act against tainted officials despite the State Vigilance Organization seeking action against them after submitting their reports. Most of the departments have not been following the directions of the anti-graft bodies in corruption cases,” the official said.

The official said the departmental heads have been directed by the government that there should be no delay to act against the tainted officials. “The departments have also been told to hold its departmental probe in corruption cases so that action is taken against tainted officials on fast track basis,” the official said.

The departmental vigilance officers and district vigilance officers have also been directed to adopt multi dimensional approach to check allegations of corruption against government officials. The duties of departmental vigilance officers and district vigilance officers were explicitly defined in Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Rules, 2013. Their role is to check corruption in departments even based on any media report.

Newly appointed Director Vigilance Organization, J&K, Muneer Ahmad Khan, said there were complaints that there has been delay by departments to act on the outcome of the enquiry reports of the organization. “I will look into the matter to expedite the enquiry process and action is taken immediately by the departments once the probe gets completed. We will also seek feedback from the departments on what action has been taken against tainted officials,” Khan said.

Further, he said the SVO will maintain close coordination with departmental vigilance officers to check the corruption.

The SVO mandated to probe graft cases has remained headless many a times in the past, resulting delay in probe of corruption cases.

“We have insufficient manpower and shortage of investigating officers for quick disposal of the FIRs,” an official said.