A pointer to the harbingers of corruption.

But in the most recent development the SAC seemed to be exercising its power in a case that involves grant of minister of status to heads of corporations and statuary boards. Seeking an inquiry, the Commission has issued notice to chief minister Omar Abdullah and 11 others, including the chairpersons of the Jammu and Kashmir state commissions, Pahari speaking board, Gujjar and Bakerwal board and two advisors to the chief minister to appear before the commission in person or through their authorised agents on March 5.

In this first significant action taken by the SAC a legal question has been asked that could have far reaching consequences. It raised a question “thatpost of Advisor and Political Advisor to the Chief Minister have not been shown to be the creation of any statute or the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. It is being claimed by the government that the posts were created and filled up by the government in exercise of its administrative/executive discretion.”

Ghulam Nabi Azad

This may turn out to reveal some facets of political corruption but most often, politicians manage to secure stay orders against corruption cases against them as they piled up in SAC. The SAC’s founder chairman Justice late R P Sethi was forced to resign when his son, who was then additional advocate general in the state government was caught taking bribe from an accused. Sethi accused Peerzada of orchestrating it and termed the sting operation as “conspiracy” to make SAC non-functional and directed State Police Chief to register a criminal case against his son.

“Right now there are at least six ministers in the cabinet who haveclear corruption cases against them,” a ruling party legislator said on condition of anonymity. “These cases are part of the public discourse but nobody in the government is willing to act.”

Then there is also the issue of moral authority a head of the government should possess for dealing a terminal blow to certain cases of political corruption.

The investigations into the death of ruling party fixer Haji Yousuf in 2011 summer, the first such case of political corruption, is being talked about all around us. Haji was handed over to the state police crime (investigation) branch by the chief minister and his junior home minister themselves after he refused to return a huge amount of money to two NC activists which was paid for making them members of state’s legislative council.

Haji died in police custody amid accusations of the chief minister being involved. A retired supreme court judge looking into the matter has apparently served notices to two accused in the political corruption scandal but so far they are untraceable for the system while reporters have talked to them with much ease. “When you could talk to me on phone and ascertain the facts, what prompted commission not to contact me on phone” Salam Reshi, another character involved in the scandal who had claimed he paid Rs 35 lakh to become a lawmaker, told a reporter. “The commission has no credibility under the given circumstances.”

Mohammad Yousuf Bhat – the incumbent chief minister’s chief agent in his home constituency, who had paid Rs 85 lakhs for his induction into the cabinet, has evaded the commission of inquiry hoping the party would help him get his money back.

Amid such blatant political corruption industry thriving, the civil societyis gradually coming out to demand some degree of accountability. A group of senior citizens accused the government of frustrating institutional efforts to deal with corruption.

“After studying the State Vigilance Commission Act, we believe it is doomed to become another toothless anti-corruption agency because it lacks necessary autonomy and authority to investigate and punish the corrupt,” a statement by a group of prominent citizens said.

A retired DIG of anti-corruption watchdog SVO, Bashir A Mala said, “the Commission will superintendent and supervise the existing State Vigilance Organization (SVO) which will add one more delaying step to the process of anti-corruption. I have served the organization and I know how the government delays the sanction for prosecution or simply conveys discreetly how a particular officer is not corrupt.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here