Dilli ka babu
Slow practice
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)’s annual report for 2010 reveals about many corrupt babus who had managed to evade penalty mostly due to government passivity. Last year, according to the report, the panel investigated 5,783 complaints of corruption, but only 42 per cent of the tainted babus were penalised. I
nterestingly, the culprits include ministries headed by the likes of home minister P. Chidambaram, railways minister Mamata Banerjee and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
According to sources, the finance and rail ministries have been the slowest to act against corrupt babus. Apparently, the finance ministry has still to act against at least 331 babus despite the CVC’s recommendation six months ago. Matters are no different at Rail Bhavan and even the home ministry. Among the issues raised by the report is the delay in investigating complaints by central vigilance officers. The report also points out how the organisations themselves dilute the action recommended against a corrupt official.
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Babu’s trouble
Finally, Punjab governor and Union Territory (UT) administrator Shivraj Patil has recommended action against controversial Chandigarh finance secretary Sanjay Kumar. Kumar, a Punjab cadre officer of 1987 batch, was on deputation to the UT administration and under cloud for unauthorised retention of `621 crore from a construction project meant to be transferred to the government. He was also accused of forging papers to procure lifetime membership of a golf club in Chandigarh.
The reason for the delayed action against Mr Kumar, babu-watchers say, was the fact that though posted at Chandigarh he was on deputation to the Central government. Disciplinary action against him could not proceed without bringing the ministry of home affairs into the picture. Apparently, the ministry issued a notice to Mr Kumar but he failed to respond within the stipulated period.
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