Bihar officials facing graft charges may face dismissal

A total of 150 public officials in Bihar involved in corruption cases may be dismissed from service, as part of the government’s campaign against corruption, Ashok Kumar Singh, Bihar’s chief secretary, told a press conference in Patna on Friday.

From January 2006, 934 cases related to corruption charges have been registered and 658 public officials have been arrested. Out of the total cases, 99 are related to disproportionate assets, Mr. Sinha said.

Charge sheets have been filed against 856 persons and 91 persons have also been sentenced.

Mr. Sinha said as part of departmental action the government has followed the policy of “removal or dismissal [in which pension is withheld]” of officials involved in bribery cases. “We are proposing the same penalty for those who shield such officials. So far 95 officials have been dismissed, which include a retired Director General of Police and a senior IAS officer. The government has a zero tolerance policy on corruption,” he said.

In line with his stance of good governance and accountability, Bihar chief minister has often said his government was critical about cracking down on corruption.

Recently, in the wake of reports about a Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance, Mr. Kumar questioned Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s stand on corruption. The Janata Dal (United) is set to use Lalu Prasad’s conviction in the fodder scam case to target the Congress in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Its anti-corruption agenda would also serve as a counter to the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party in Bihar. Recently JD(U) minster Parveen Amanullah resigned from the State cabinet and joined AAP.

The chief secretary said the government would be releasing weekly updates of action taken against corrupt officials.

Courtesy: The Hindu