Justice S. M. Subramaniam of Madras HC while making observations regarding the corrupt practices in the Public administration of the Government Departments, endorsed that the judiciary also is not exempted from corrupt practices.
“It is worse than that of the corruption in public departments”, he said, highlighting judiciary corruption and adding that judicial remedy being the last resort to the common man, effective, efficient and impartial judicial system in consonance with the constitutional, philosophy and ethos are to be achieved.
The judge made these observations while dismissing a petition filed by one N. Ulagaraj against the punishment of compulsory retirement imposed on him for accepting bribes during his service as an office assistant in a Sub-Registrar office in 2004.
- “It is worse than that of the corruption in public departments”, he said, highlighting judiciary corruption and adding that judicial remedy being the last resort to the common man, effective, efficient and impartial judicial system in consonance with the constitutional, philosophy and ethos are to be achieved.
- Corruption is a devil in the society
- Corruption eats the welfare of the society like termite
- Awareness created is insufficient
- Implementation of Beneficial Schemes
- Vigilance and Anticorruption to be strengthened
Corruption is a devil in the society
The Judge expressed the view that corruption is a devil in the society. Corruption is an anti- developmental phenomenon. Corruption is the blockage for the developmental activities of our great nation. Corruption causes greater injustice to the society at large, more specifically, to the poor and downtrodden. “Large scale corrupt practices in various forms prevailing in public services are causing untold agony and common men are struggling even to get their rightful and legal benefits”, said the Court.
The bench continued to express regret, that it is painful to pen down that for the implementation of beneficial schemes and Government Orders, corrupt practices in various forms are demanded by the public servants and in some cases, by the higher officials and it is painful that the responsible higher officials are absolutely insensitive in controlling the corrupt practices.
“Corrupt practices are not only demand and acceptance of money, but corrupt practices are prevailing in various forms. Thus creating more awareness and sensitiveness are all paramount importance in order to deal with the corrupt practices in public services”, said the bench. adding that it is the constitutional mandate that every Government of the day is expected to be efficient, people-friendly and hypersensitive in the matter of dealing with corrupt practices.
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Corruption eats the welfare of the society like termite
“Corruption eats the welfare of the society like termite“, remarked the bench, observing that though, no doubt, the Department of Vigilance and Anticorruption is functioning in the State, the size of the department and the number of officials functioning are not in commensuration with the large scale corrupt practices and judiciary corruption prevailing .
The bench opined that the department of Vigilance and Anticorruption is to be strengthened to a greater extent, so as to ensure periodical surprise inspections and raids are conducted to deal with the corrupt practices in public services and for judiciary corruption. Adequate number of men and women of integrity and honesty must be engaged for this purpose. There must be full fledged coverage for the entire public administration to eradicate the judiciary corruption. There should not be any scope for leniency or misplaced sympathy in dealing with the corruption cases and judiciary corruption.
Awareness created is insufficient
The Court was of the opinion that the awareness being created at present is insufficient, so as to cripple down the corrupt practices in public services and judiciary corruption. “For a moment, dream of a Public Administration free from corrupt practices. Such a dream itself would give immense pleasure and happiness. Dream than an ordinary citizen can enter into any Government Offices and Public Offices and get his works done in a legal and rightful manner without any difficulty, certainly, such an atmosphere would be a joyful event and the same would lead to fast and greater development of our great nation”, articulated the bench.
Expressing that the Government of the day is expected to strengthen the Anticorruption wings and periodical and frequent surprise raids/inspections are to be conducted in public offices, the bench observed that further, the assets and the liabilities of the department servants are to be periodically verified as the Service Rules require every public servant is bound to furnish the details of their assets and liabilities. “When the Rule requires such information to be provided to the Department, the same has not been maintained properly in many Departments by many Higher Authorities. The disproportionate wealth is to be periodically monitored. The genuinity and sanctity of the information provided by the public servants are to be properly checked”, said the bench.
Implementation of Beneficial Schemes
“The competent Authorities of the Government have the choice to obtain suggestions and expert opinions in the field of Anticorruption and accordingly issue comprehensive instructions/directions/guidelines to deal with the corrupt practices in Public Departments”, stated the bench.
The bench was of the view that announcing beneficial schemes alone is insufficient, that the implementation of the beneficial schemes must reach the poor and downtrodden in a hustle-free manner. “Thus by introducing the welfare schemes, the Government cannot attain success. The implementation of such beneficial schemes so as to take the scheme to the poorest of poor in this country would alone lead to success”, said the bench.
Vigilance and Anticorruption to be strengthened
The bench opined that the department of Vigilance and Anticorruption is to be strengthened to a greater extent, so as to ensure periodical surprise inspections and raids are conducted to deal with the corrupt practices in public services. Adequate number of men and women of integrity and honesty must be engaged for this purpose. There must be full fledged coverage for the entire public administration to eradicate the corrupt practices. There should not be any scope for leniency or misplaced sympathy in dealing with the corruption cases and judiciary corruption.
