Srinagar, May 26: In a bid to check corruption in bureaucracy, Jammu and Kashmir today brought 13 ministries under the watch of vigilance who will monitor officers of doubtful integrity and their assets. A government spokesman said departments of revenue, police, excise, sales tax, forest, rural development, roads and buildings, public health engineering, flood control, power development, food and supplies, transport, education, social welfare and Jammu and Srinagar Development Authorities have been identified for focus of State Vigilance Organisation. The spokesman said SVO would target officers of doubtful integrity and those points of administration where corruption was rampant.

It will prepare an agreed list of gazetted officers with doubtful integrity in consultation with concerned departments.

The working of such officers will be scrutinized closely particularly in spheres where there was no scope for discretion or for showing favours, he said. Discrete enquiries would be made about the reputation of these officers and secret inquiry conducted by departmental vigilance officers about their assets and financial resources, the spokesman said.

He said if secret inquiries reveal positive material, open inquiries would be initiated by SVO and further action taken accordingly.

Bureau Report