SRINAGAR, Aug 25: The State Government’s claim of making the system corruption free is fast falling flat since inordinate delay has taken place in compilation and subsequently making public the second list of corrupt officials.
Sources told that some of the top ranking bureaucrats in the state are trying their best to shield the officials who have been found involved in corrupt practices in the state with the guilt also being established. This has resulted into a situation wherein there are chances that the corrupt officers may be saved from facing the axe.
“The first list of deadwood consisted of middle rung and lower rung officials. A handful of top ranking corrupt officials were taken to task by the Government. Almost two months have passed ever since that list was announced by the Government and since then no headway has been made in this regard,” said sources.
Sources said the corrupt officials out of whom some have been attached are trying their best to avoid the embarrassment of being terminated from the Government services. They are knocking at the doors of the ministers as well as bureaucrats so that no action whatsoever is taken against them.
“It was expected that the names of high ranking officials would be there in the first list of deadwood but that was not to be. An official who was close to corridors of power in the previous National Conference-Congress coalition Government managed to save himself from axe after paying hefty sum to some of the ministers and bureaucrats,” said sources.
Sources said that other officials who are likely to face axe may grease the palms of ministers and save themselves from punitive action. As such there are chances that the big sharks would be saved with punitive action only taken against the officials who don’t have much say in the overall functioning of the system.
“It is extremely important to take action against the high ranking corrupt officials since the same would act as deterrent. Employees more so those holding higher positions would think twice before resorting to any malpractice. However as on date the Government is more relying on rhetoric than taking real steps to curb corruption in the state,” said sources.
Sources said that accountability cannot be brought about in the system by mere lip service but by taking meaningful steps to curb corruption. The interference of the politicians more so those enjoying power is all set to deflate the claim of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that his Government would not tolerate corruption in the state.
“Since Mufti himself is the GAD minister he should take the final call and ensure that strict action is to be taken against the corrupt officers. Otherwise, people would be forced to think that there is no difference between the present dispensation and the previous one headed by Omar Abdullah,” said sources.
Courtesy: Early TIMES