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Naveen calls for end to graft

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Discussing a point: Vigilance Director A.K. Patnaik with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a programme held as part of the Vigilance Awareness Week in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.

BHUBANESWAR: Vigilance wing of the State police here on Saturday claimed to have improved its investigation and monitoring process for which rate of cases ending in conviction had gone up.

Addressing the State-level Vigilance Awareness Week celebration, Director (vigilance) Anup Kumar Patnaik said, “during this year by September end, 45 cases ended in conviction in which one class-I officer, six class-II, 38 clsss-III and a class IV government employees and two private persons were convicted in vigilance courts. The percentage of conviction during this period is 48 per cent.”

He further claimed increase in conviction rate could be achieved by opening a prosecution cell in vigilance directorate and closely monitoring cases in court and aiding and assisting public prosecutors.

According to the official, “during last five years 209 cases ended in conviction in which 11 class-I, 32 class-II, 163 clsss-III and eight class IV government employees and nine other public servants and 21 private persons were convicted in vigilance courts. The percentage of conviction in this period was 37 per cent.”

He said, “we could have speeded up trial of more cases, if all special courts are appointed with special judge by High Court. We have two vacancies of special judge in existing courts and three new courts though created for more than a year, are yet to become functional due to non-posting of judges.”

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged public servants to maintain absolute honesty in all daily dealings. “People should come forward in exposing the corrupt. The State is marching ahead in all spheres of development. Hence, it is all the more important for each one of us to ensure that corrupt practices do not derail the process of economic growth and development,” Chief Minister said.

Lokpal of Orissa Justice P. K. Patra, however, expressed concern over delay in completing investing process.

In some cases vigilance investigation went on for five to six years while investigating officers should be asked to adhere to time limit, Justice Patra said.

Government should also reintroduce an improved procedure of production of witnesses, which was crucial for conviction in corruption cases, he said. Among others Chief Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Member of Parliament of Bhubaneswar Prasanna Patsani spoke on the occasion.

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