Along with other States, the level of corruption in Goa has been soaring and escalating in recent years. The current state of affairs cannot get any worse. The Judiciary has been trying to crack the whip to curb the menace of corruption.
Recently a Division bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.K. Prasad observed that a government officer who indulges in financial misdemeanour should not be allowed to continue in service even as a Class 1V employee. The Delhi High Court last month observed that most government departments are filled with corrupt officials who are “eating away funds” meant for the poor and that jail should be the place for such persons. “Most of the staff in various departments are corrupt” observed the court while denying bail to a senior official behind bars for corruption. Bombay High Court Justice A.B. Chaudhari recently expressed the need for a tougher law to punish corrupt public officials. Justice Chaudhari recommended that the Union Government amend the prevention of Corruption Act to provide for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for any criminal offences committed by government officials. Justice Chaudhari’s remarks came while dismissing a petition filed by an IAS officer Giridhar Kurve who was the Municipal Commissioner of Akola and was seeking the quashing of a criminal complaint of corruption against him. The government machinery needs a total overhaul. It needs a shake up by concerned citizens to usher in an administration that is responsive to the people’s aspirations. We need to cut through the dry rot that has engulfed and is eating up into the entire public administration system which has just stopped delivering. Aires Rodrigues T1 - B30, Ribandar Retreat Ribandar - Goa - 403006 Mobile: 9822684372
