Kerala - Kottayam   

VS urges Vigilance to redouble efficiency

V. S. Achuthanandan says quick disposal of cases will help to fight corruption.

KOTTAYAM: The Court of Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance court) here was inaugurated by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Saturday.

Mr. Achuthanandan stressed the need for speedier disposal of cases to make the fight against corruption more effective. Delayed justice not only encouraged the corrupt elements but also made the life of wrongly implicated innocents miserable.

To make the democratic system more effective, he said, the political leadership, the police, the judiciary and the executive should be corruption-free.

“We cannot claim that the police and the judiciary, entrusted with the fight against corruption and mismanagement, are devoid of corruption,” the Chief Minister said. The Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to inquire into corruption charges against a few judges, he recalled.

Corruption has resulted in the siphoning off of a part of resources meant for poverty alleviation The Vigilance wing will have to redouble its efficiency to stall this pilferage, he said.

The Chief Minister wanted the police and the Vigilance departments to caution people against those whose “acts of magic with money” would get the common man entranced and duped.

In his presidential address, Chief Justice of Kerala High Court H.L. Dattu said the situation in Vigilance courts was very alarming, as there was a steep increase in the number of cases.

Although the percentage of conviction was high, the rate of disposal of cases had remained unchanged. The delay might contribute to the erosion of confidence reposed by the people in the Vigilance system. Establishment of new courts would improve the situation.

Judiciary, with least external accountability, has come out as the most vigilant watchdog of democracy, he said. While performing its duty, the court must not fail to identify its function and position.

Delivering his keynote address, Home and Vigilance Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the State government had taken special care to intensify the fight against corruption. After coming to power, it had instituted 313 Vigilance inquires and more than 300 secret inquiries. The government had disposed of 418 vigilance cases, 929 inquiries and 446 secret inquiries. As many as 408 Vigilance cases and 834 inquiries were pending.

He said a quick verification system was found effective. A structural revamping of the Vigilance Department was on the anvil. At least 50 per cent of its personnel would be appointed directly. Amendments to code of Vigilance inquiries were on the cards.

K.J. Mathew, Additional Chief Secretary, welcomed the gathering.

Public Works Minister Mons Joseph; A.K. Basheer and M. Sasidharan Nair, judges of the Kerala High Court; Suresh Kurup MP; V.N. Vasavan, MLA; Thomas Kunnappally, district panchayat president; Reeba Varkey, municipal chairperson; Thomas Mathew Bar association president; and Jacob Punnoos, Director, Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau; spoke.

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