STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Taking a strong note of the closure of corruption complaints against two former Assembly Speakers by the State Vigilance Organisation, the state’s highest anti-graft body has asked SVO Director to explain his position by May 18.
Yesterday, the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) headed by Chief Vigilance Commissioner Kuldeep Khoda, met on Wednesday in Srinagar, and called for the explanation from the SVO Director Sheikh Owais by May 18 for violation of State Vigilance Commission Act and Commission rules, the SVC Sources said.
Earlier, on April 23, the SVO had been summoned in this regard and it submitted its report to the SVC which had listed the case for May 6.
The SVO has violated the Commission Act and rules, the SVO said adding that this cannot be taken lightly and Commission will go ahead with the action in this regard.
The Full Commission, headed by Chief Vigilance Commissioner Kuldeep Khoda, had summoned all the officials who dealt and investigated the complaint, for explanation on violation of legal procedure in filing Closure of cases against….
the closure report before the High Court.
Sources said that SVO had violated the law in protecting these former Speakers.
“They have given a equivocate reply in their report on the closure of corruption complaints against two ex-speakers,” the sources said.
The SVO had filed closure report in the High Court last month on complaint of illegal and backdoor appointments made in the Assembly and MLAs Hostel by two former Speakers and the HC had expressed anguish over the closure.
SVC took very serious note of the SVO surpassing the Commission to file closure complaint in the High Court.
As per the SVC Act, the State Vigilance Organisation had to inform and take consent of the Vigilance Commission before filing closure report of any complaint or case.
However, in this particular case, the Vigilance Organisation had straightway filed the report before the High Court.
The SVC didn’t rule out the possibility of the SVO filing closure of complaint in haste to shield the former Speakers and now sitting MLAs of the ruling party.
In the appointments case, no advertisements had been issued to invite applications for the posts but the officials simply processed the cases and the appointment orders were issued in favour of few favourite candidates of the former Speakers.
Majority of the candidates engaged through the back-door were youths of the Assembly constituencies of the then Speakers.
The High Court, while issuing directions for reopening of the case, had made it clear that fresh probe shall be completed within a period of two months. (PTI)
