Patna, Jan. 19: Public servants who have concealed information about movable and immovable assets while making an official declaration before the government would soon face the heat.
The vigilance department is keeping a close tab on the declaration of assets of about 5 lakh public servants in the state. The department has received some complaints in this regard and action is likely to be taken against the employees concerned.
“We have received complaints against some public servants who have concealed information about their assets. The information about these assets has not been mentioned in the property returns submitted to the government or uploaded on the government website,” said principal secretary, vigilance, Ashok Kumar Chauhan.
He said though the department can take suo motu cognisance of the complaint and launch an investigation, it was not practically feasible to go through the records of every government employee. “But we act accordingly soon after receiving such complaints,” Chauhan said, adding that concealing information was a serious offence.
Additional director-general (vigilance) P.K. Thakur, who was present at the news conference convened by the vigilance department, said several cases in connection with concealment of assets would be lodged during the current fiscal. “The complaints received by the vigilance bureau in this regard are being verified,” he said.
Chauhan made it clear that efforts would be made to keep the identity of the informant under wraps. “Normally we don’t disclose the identity of the informant. But it all depends on the court once the case is registered. Sometimes even the bureau officials have to appear before the court as witnesses,” he said.
The government’s fresh initiative to nail the corrupt public servants has, however, evoked mixed reactions from government employees’ associations. While some are apprehensive of coercive action and harassment in the name of investigation, others described it as a positive trend.
Manjul Kumar Das, secretary of the All India State Government Employees’ Federation and former secretary of Bihar State Non-Gazetted Employees Federation, said: “We have no objection over the government’s initiative to take action against public servants for concealing information according to the law. But we will oppose the move to harass any employee in the name of investigation.”
He said the federation was against corruption. “But as far as concealment of information regarding assets is concerned, the politicians (read MPs and MLAs) are the main culprits,” Das told The Telegraph. He said the association has some reservations over the “double standard” of the government on corruption. “Government employees have been asked to give a declaration every year and they do it religiously,” he added.
Sushil Kumar, general secretary of the Bihar Administrative Service Association, said: “I don’t think anybody would have given wrong information. But it is not possible to provide accurate information about movable and immovable property. If the government takes action as per law, we don’t have any point to oppose. But the association will certainly react over the move, if any, to harass the members on the pretext of investigation.”
K.P. Ramaiah, treasurer of the Indian Administrative Service Officers’ Association, however, finds nothing wrong in it. “Nobody can stop the government from taking action against any public servant. The public servants are supposed to give accurate information about their assets. This is a positive trend which should be appreciated.”
The Indian Police Service Officers’ Association agreed. “What is wrong if action is taken against public servants who have given wrong information about their assets and concealed the fact? Corruption is a serious issue and everybody should cooperate with the investigating agency assigned to deal with such matters,” a senior IPS officer said under cover of anonymity.
