Need for drastic change in attitude of authorities to eradicate corrupt practices: Madras High Court

The Madras High Court recently called for a drastic change in the attitudes of authorities in order to minimise and eventually eradicate corruption on the part of public servants [K Kumaradoss v. The Principal Secretary to Government]..Justice SM Subramaniam made the observation while directing the State government and the Director General of Police to take effective steps to eradicate the practice of police officers receiving mamool (bribe paid by shop vendors to police). The order stated,"There must be a drastic change in the attitude on the part of the competent Authorities and they are expected to work swiftly so as to minimise the corrupt practices currently and to eradicate in future. Debates after debates are conducted in many interesting subjects through medias and in public domain. However, negligible number of debates are being conducted regarding corruption in our great nation.".The Court also observed that large-scale corrupt practices in public services were causing untold agony, and that common men were struggling even to get their rightful legal benefits as a result."Corruption is a devil in the society. Corruption is an antidevelopment phenomena. 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," said the judge. Pointing out a worrying trend in the country, the Court went on to say,"Public servants are receiving the salary from the tax~payers- money. The responsibility and accountability is the constitutional mandate. Public servants are expected to perform their duties with utmost care and by maintaining absolute integrity and honesty. However, in reality, the state of affairs prevailing in our great nation is the worrying factor. People are frustrated with the large scale corrupt practices in public services.".Justice Subramanian further said that the Department of Vigilance and Anti-corruption needed to be strengthened, and that periodical surprise inspections and raids ought to be undertaken to deal with corrupt practices in public services."However the size of the department and the number of officials functioning are not in commensuration with the large scale corrupt practices prevailing in many number of departments. 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."It was also stressed that there should not be any scope for leniency or misplaced sympathy in dealing with corruption cases..The Court recorded that competent authorities had the choice to obtain suggestions and expert opinions in the field of anti-corruption, and then issue comprehensive instructions, directions or guidelines to deal with corrupt practices in public departments."Urgent and stringent measures are warranted and appropriate instructions/guidelines are to be issued to all the Government Offices," the Court ordered..[Read Order]