Madras HC questions T.N. over ‘slow’ response to corruption charges against public servants

Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman also want to know whether the government has effective control over the activities of uniformed services personnel

The Madras High Court on Monday (December 16, 2024) questioned the Tamil Nadu government as to why it was being “very slow” in acting on charges of corruption and misappropriation against government servants despite there being large-scale complaints of even basic services not being provided to people without the “greasing of palms.”

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman directed the Home Secretary to explain to the court by January 6, 2025, the stand of the State government with respect to the complaints of corruption in government departments, including uniformed services, across Tamil Nadu.

The Bench also wanted to know whether the government was effectively exercising control over uniformed personnel in the State and whether it was closely monitoring as well as initiating action against lapses, dereliction of duty, and abuse of power by the Police and Prison department officials.

“It is painful to note that poor people have to shell out thousands of rupees as bribe money even to get nativity certificates, patta, and such other documents. When government servants get their salaries and allowances on time, why do they let the poor suffer?” asked Justice Subramaniam.

Though actions were being initiated promptly against political opponents under the Prevention of Corruption Act, it appears that a similar interest is not shown in prosecuting bureaucrats and other public servants who swindle public money, the senior judge in the Division Bench said.

The observations were made during the hearing of a writ petition complaining about some prisoners not having been paid wages for months together. The petitioner’s counsel M. Radhakrishnan and P. Pugalenthi highlighted to the court several corrupt practices allegedly happening in the Prison department.

The advocates produced a 2022 report of the Principal Accountant General regarding unwarranted expenditure of ₹5.57 crore having been incurred by the Prison department towards the purchase of raw materials for the products made by the prisoners and also for paying wages to them.

Replying to it, Additional Public Prosecutor R. Muniyapparaj told the court that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) had registered a First Information Report (FIR) on December 12, 2024, over the misappropriation of ₹1.63 crore by Madurai Central Prison officials between 2019 and 2021.

The APP told the court that the FIR had been booked against the then Superintendent of Prison M. Urmila (now serving in Cuddalore), jailor S. Vasanthakannan (now serving as Additional Superintendent in Palayamkottai), Administrative Officer M. Thiyagarajan (now serving in Vellore), and eight others.

The charges against the prison officials were that they had entered into a criminal conspiracy with some traders and misappropriated the money by claiming to have received raw materials for weaving bandage cloth, making office covers, and so on by the prisoners, though no such raw materials were supplied.

When Justice Subramaniam wanted to know why it took two long years for the DVAC to register the FIR, the APP said, it was because of the preliminary inquiry conducted by seeking information from various government departments, which were reportedly supplied the stationery made by the prisoners.

“You have written to 56 departments and received reply from 30 of them. Will it take two long years to get reply from government departments? Is this how the DVAC is investigating all corruption cases involving public money? What about the powers that you have to conduct search and seize properties?” the judge asked.

Expressing displeasure over the delay in conducting a probe into cases involving misappropriation of public money by government servants, the Division Bench said, it expected the Home Secretary to look into the issue and respond to the queries raised by the court.

Published - December 16, 2024 02:21 pm IST