Assorted articles and Information

Despite all its claims of being at the service of the common man, Delhi police has earned the dubious distinction of facing the maximum number of bribery cases from amongst all the state departments. As many as 15 out of a total 34 bribe cases filed against various state departments in 2007 are against men in the khaki uniform. Also, 17 cops are facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to the figures by Delhi Government Vigilance Department tabled in state assembly recently. After Delhi police comes Municipal Corporation and State Transport Authority which have got four and three cases against them respectively.

During 2007, two corruption cases each were registered against Finance department and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) while one case each was registered against Delhi Jal Board, Education, Waqf Board, DTC and health department besides others. In all, 37 government employees including 17 from police followed by five from MCD have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Vigilance figures tell.

Indicating a nexus between the officials and the private individuals, the department has also registered bribe cases against at least eight non-officials. Besides, the figures reveal that in 2007, chargesheet was filed in 15 cases against the same number of personnel. Also, files against six officials had been sent to their respective departments for appropriate departmental action. The trend hardly looked any better this year as in the last three months, the Vigilance has already registered a case against three municipal officials for allegedly misusing the power vested in them by official position.

India is presently ranked at 72nd place among 180 countries by the Transparency International in its latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Regarding this the Centre said it has taken several measures and is moving progressively to eradicate the menace.

Suresh Pachouri, Minister of State for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, in Lok Sabha said that the Government is fully committed to implement its policy to Zero tolerence against corruption. It is moving progressively to readicate corruption by improving transparency and accountability. And measures for strengthening the Anti-Corruption Bureau in various states are taken by the concerned governments while the Centre has decided to strengthen the CBI and departmental vigilance organisations.

Pachuri further added that the measure includes modernisation and upgradation of infrastructure of the CBI, appointment of CVOs on the recommendations of the CVC, formulation and implementation of annual action plans for vigilance activities through pro-active involvement of various ministries and departments, issuance of comprehensive instructions on transparency in tendering and contacting processes by the CVC.