Tamil Nadu   

Directive not to engage `unauthorised assistants'

V.S. Palaniappan

Coimbatore: In what looks like an attempt to come down heavily on corrupt practices in government offices by "unauthorised assistants", the Government has directed all the district collectors and the heads of departments to ensure that officers in Government departments are prevented from engaging private individuals to act on their behalf.

"Illegal gratification"

These unauthorised assistants are found to be acting as agents/brokers for collecting "illegal gratification" from the public.

The Special Commissioner and Secretary to Government for Personnel and Administrative Reforms (S) Department, T.S. Sridhar, in a letter (59420/S/2006-1 dated December 11, 2006), has cited a letter from the Vigilance Commissioner (6029/VC.II/2006-02 dated October 12, 2006). He has pointed out that the Vigilance Commission has brought to the notice of the Government that private individuals are employed in Government departments in general and in departments like Revenue, Registration, Regional Transport Offices, Public Works, Highways, Rural Development and Panchayat Development in particular for acting on behalf of the officers.

"The officers in their personal capacity engage these persons for acting on their behalf thus providing scope for corruption and collection of illegal gratification from the public in government offices."

Trap cases

It may be recalled that in the recent trap cases by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption sleuths in graft cases, the role of such unauthorised assistants came to light, especially in the Transport Department check posts and sub-registrar offices.

The officers encouraged employment of such persons to avoid a situation of being caught red-handed with graft money.

"Employing private persons unofficially in personal capacity of the officer/head of office is a serious offence. These private persons were paid remuneration illegally by the staff to carry out their work. This practice should be stopped forthwith and all outsiders should be kept out of the office. Any illegal, unofficial employment of private individuals would be viewed very seriously," the letter said.

The heads of departments/district collectors and their sub-ordinates are requested to follow the above instructions scrupulously.

They were also requested to make surprise checks in the offices under their control, especially those frequented by the public, and initiate disciplinary action against those engaging unauthorised assistants in violation of these instructions, the letter said.

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