Jaipur, July 09: In a severe indictment of the state government, the Rajasthan High Court, taking suo moto congnisance of newspaper reports, has issued notices to the state and Central governments for their "inaction" against corrupt officials.
Commenting that what the "state government was doing seems to be encouraging corruption instead of curbing it," a division bench comprising Justice S K Keshote and Justice K S Rathore, ordered issuing of notices yesterday to both the state and the Central government, returnable by August 5.
"The state government, it seems, is four paces ahead of the Union government in failing to initiate action against bureaucrats charged with corruption," the court said.
By not initiating action against corrupt officials, it said, not only has the government failed to fulfill its promise to remove corruption but it also seems that it was promoting corruption among officials.
The court quoted reports regarding non-serving of chargesheet to a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) official even after his indictment by lokayukta and allowing him to retire on a clean chit recently.
"What is the necessity of having the institution of lokayukta if no action is taken," the bench asked.
There seems to be a necessity of giving powers to lokayukta under the concerned act to not only inquire into the corruption charges but also take action against corrupt public servants, the bench said.
Bureau Report