Probe panels formed by state government to look into corruption cases
9 Jan, 2014A report prepared by the Accountant General (AG) of Chhattisgarh has shown that the state government has set up enquiry committees to look into several cases of corruption by government officials on the recommendation of the state Lokayukta.
The AG report, obtained through the exercise of Right to Information (RTI) Act, also shows that the Lokayukta had recommended enquiry for 98 graft cases. However, action was taken in only 43 cases while the rest of 55 cases under the consideration of the state government were not acted upon. The state government has constituted the enquiry committees under Chhattisgarh Lok Ayog Adhiniyam, which provides for appointment of an authority for enquiry into complaint against public servants. It also mandates that such authority complete the investigation within three months on the corruption cases referred by the Lokayukta.
The AG report also states that the enquiry committees headed by non-legal officers have rendered the institution of Lokayukta meaningless. It also found that over 1,300 cases of corruption are pending with the office of Lokayukta. The report shows that funding is not an issue as around Rs. 1.6 crore of excess budget is lying with the authorities.