Dimapur, July 12 : Apparently piqued by ACAUT’s statement on the performance of the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) published in local dailies on July 9, the Commission today issued a reply, saying casting aspersions and terming the SVC as a decorative arm of the State is uncalled for.
The Commission said, ACAUT and general public should have faith in the police investigation on fuel adulteration and cooperate with the investigating team to ensure speedy investigation of the case. The SVC mentioned that corruption is one of the basic impediments in the growth and development of the State and the concern of the citizens regarding fuel adulteration is viewed seriously by SVC but parallel investigation by Police and SVC is not practical.
While acknowledging the concern expressed by ACAUT regarding various issues, the Commission mentioned that it is investigating 90 cases (Regular and Preliminary Enquiries), which is inclusive of SIT cases that requires the involvement of a good number of officers in every case.
The SVC said, in addition, the investigating team also requires touring the districts relating to the cases. It however said, the Commission has strength of only 13 Investigating Officers, 11 Assisting Investigating officers and 3 Supervising Officers including the Director for the whole State. On the issue of the fuel adulteration scam, the commission said that the Dimapur police have already registered 2(two) FIRs, one in Diphupar P.S and another in West P.S Dimapur and investigation is in full swing. The commission stated that there is a policy of the State government against parallel investigation and the law also prohibits the same.
Regarding Excise department case in 2014, the SVC said the commission had investigated the case and its findings and recommendation was communicated to the department for taking necessary action.
Accordingly, the department had taken action by serving administrative warning to one Deputy Superintendent of Excise and one Inspector; another Inspector was also censored by the government, SVC added. The commission also noted the poor maintenance of record by the department and recommended that the Excise department streamline the maintenance of all official records.
Relating to complaint of ACAUT on backdoor appointment of BDOs in 2015, which was addressed to the Chief Secretary and copy endorsed to State Vigilance Commissioner, the SVC said that there was no direction from the government to investigate into the matter and that the matter was not taken up by the Commission. With regard to the PDS scam, under F&CS department, there is no formal complaint till date, SVC said.
As to the allegation of the SVC not taking up suo-moto cases, the commission clarified that it functions as per the government resolutions and notifications adopted from time to time. “There are some technical issue with regard to the government amendments on the resolutions regarding suo-moto cases for which clarification has been sought from the government.”
State Vigilance Commission mentioned, “The greed addicts prevalent in the society are pushing humanity into a medieval sort of decadence. Everyone these days, from all walks of life are all thirsting for personal profits. The lack of transparency, morality, accountability, consistency and institutional weakness provide fertile ground for the growth of corruption. In view of the above clarification the general public may appreciate the limitations and functioning of the Commission.”
