Despite Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu proclaiming zero tolerance for corruption, the state reportedly continues to sit on departmental inquiries against employees.
According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, in the last 16 months, 84 Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases have been forwarded to the state government for sanction of orders for prosecution. However, the total number of pending departmental inquiries from 1987 stands at 1,061.
The rules dictate that departments should issue orders for prosecution in 45 days from when the Vigilance Commission submits a review of the ACB report, but at least 133 reports of the ACB are pending with the government for appropriate orders.
Departmental inquiries are also expected to be completed within three to six months, but they have been pending for years, due to lack of Inquiry officers.
The DC report also adds:
A majority of the departmental inquiries are from six departments: Revenue, Medical & Health, Municipal Administration, Transport and Roads & Buildings, Home and Panchayat Raj. Fifteen ACB cases from 2014 and 69 ACB cases in 2015 till October 25, are awaiting sanction of orders from the state government. Also, 18 convicted cases are waiting for the state government’s orders.
In 2014, ACB had registered 249 cases and 20 officers were dismissed while 19 officers out of 196 cases were dismissed from service in 2015.