CHANDIGARH: Taking serious note of the fact that there is ‘extra ordinary delay’ in grant of prosecution sanction in corruption cases, the Punjab chief vigilance commissioner has asked all deputy commissioners (DCs) to either grant or deny prosecution sanction within a period of 30 days after the probe is over.
Chief vigilance commissioner Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, former acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court, pointed out that delay in prosecution sanction has been especially found in cases where revenue officials are involved.
“After the investigation has been completed by the investigating officer concerned, it is requested that prosecution sanction be granted or denied within a period of 30 days,” said Justice Gill.
The Punjab vigilance bureau had nabbed 106 persons red handed while taking bribes in 77 trap cases last year, which included 24 employees of the state revenue department.
Out of the total 106 accused caught red handed in corruption cases last year, 92 were government officials, including seven gazetted officers and 8 non-gazetted officials, besides 14 private persons.
The chief vigilance commissioner also pointed out that it has also come to his notice that mutations are being accepted or rejected beyond the stipulated period of 45 days, which is a source of corruption.
Taking a serious view of all these facts, the chief vigilance commissioner has addressed a letter to all DCs of the 23 districts of the state to take the matter seriously and adhere to the time limits as mentioned in rules.
He also made it clear that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, says, “The concerned authority shall convey its decision under this section within a period of three months, which may, for reasons to be recorded in writing by such authority, be extended by a further period of one month.” The delay in grant of sanction to prosecute a government employee comes as a setback to the prosecution and ultimately leads to violation of the right to speedy trial especially when the corruption cases are to be dealt with promptly.
Ultimately, the delay in prosecution comes as a blessing in disguise for the accused government official.