The Hindu : `Courts should not grant stay in graft cases'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

`Courts should not grant stay in graft cases'

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI NOV. 6. Designated special courts, which will be able to complete trial in six months by statute, should be created to deal with corruption-related cases, former judge of the Supreme Court, S. Mohan, said here today.

Speaking at the `Vigilance Awareness Week', jointly organised by the Mylapore Academy and the Indian Oil Corporation, Mr. Mohan suggested that corruption cases be divided into two categories — cases in which the amount involved was below Rs. 5,000 and the other dealing with those above Rs 5,000.

Asserting that courts should not grant any stay on the proceedings in these cases, he said the property belonging to the accused should be attached and his/her bank account frozen. Such a move would certainly bring in a change in the people's mindset.

An agonising delay was taking place in delivering judgments in corruption-related cases, he said.

The launching of vigilance awareness week programmes had brought in considerable changes, said the former Central Vigilance Commissioner, N. Vittal. The Vigilance Commission had been made a statutory body, as it was backed by the Central Vigilance Act.

The Supreme Court had made it mandatory for every person contesting election to declare his/her assets, criminal background if any and educational qualifications and the Anti-Defection Law had been amended. Corporate governance had also changed.

Corruption had a direct bearing on the nation or state's economic development. It was anti-national and the foremost enemy of the poor and the downtrodden, he said.

While the Chairman of the TN Police Housing Corporation, B.P. Nailwal, felt that the erosion of character among the individuals led to corrupt practices, the IOC General Manager, V. Ramasamy, said `vigilance' need not be a word associated only with enquiry or punishment.

It was an integral part of management as it indicated the need to follow procedures, devise corrective measures and guide people to achieve objectives.

The Mylapore Academy chairperson, Sarojini Varadappan, and the secretary, T. D. Sadasivam, were among those who spoke. Prizes were distributed to the winners of oratorical competitions conducted by the academy.

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