The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Panel moots penal action for ‘inaction’

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Panel moots penal action for ‘inaction’

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: The State Administrative Reforms Committee is likely to recommend penal action against officials for “negligence of duty” and “inaction.”

Its Chairman and former High Court Judge, A.K. Rajan, said that the committee was aware of red-tapism in the functioning of Government departments that leads to corruption. “We are contemplating to recommend penal action for not only negligence of duty, but also for inaction,” Mr. Rajan told reporters.

Earlier, he addressed the Madurai Corporation officials and councillors here on Wednesday at an interactive meeting to discuss issues relating to administrative reforms in the local body.

Red-tape

The panel member-secretary, T.S. Sridhar, said that the committee wanted to get public opinion to do away with red-tapism, and simplify procedures and bring about transparency in the functioning of Government departments.

“Ninety per cent of the public issues could be solved (easily) if all the laid procedures are followed and everyone discharged his / her duties … But, in most of the cases, the delay (on part of the officials in processing applications and petitions) leads to corruption,” he said.

Many of the councillors pointed out that the Corporation should be empowered to effect tax reformation at regular intervals without waiting for the Government’s nod. After discussing with the officials, Mr. Rajan said that the Corporation was free to revise the tax. However, he asked the council to seek legal advice on the issue. The councillors said that the local body was not able to appoint new staff to overcome manpower shortage due to limitation in revenue generation.

Green channel

The Communist Party of India sought creation of green channel for processing applications seeking building plan approval, transfer of name and tax fixation. “These are the areas where corruption is rampant,” its member M. Ganesan said. Besides, he said the Corporation files should be in Tamil so that everyone could go through them. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, K.R. Murugesan, said that all communication from the Corporation seeking Government nod need not be sent to the Commissioner for Municipal Administration to avoid delay.

The Congress member, M. Subburam, wanted to relax the height ceiling for buildings in the city.

The Mayor, G. Thenmozhi, the Collector, S.S. Jawahar, the Corporation Commissioner, D.J. Dinakkaren, and the panel members were present.

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