Sunday, 22 January 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed that corruption and wrong works should be checked in the government work system at various levels. Stating that it is a collective moral responsibility to ensure that Uttarakhand is free of corruption and crime, Dhami stressed on the mantra of simplification, solution, disposal and satisfaction for the swift disposal of public grievances and effective execution of government schemes. The toll free number 1064 for controlling corruption should be made more useful in public interest. He further stressed on involving public representatives, intelligentsia and the general public for eradicating corruption. Appreciating the works done by the state agencies in curtailing corruption and bribery, he said that the agencies have made effective efforts in investigating and acting on complaints of malpractices in various competitive examinations. Following prompt probe into complaints of malpractices in exams organised by the Uttarakhand Subordinate Services Selection Commission, 55 persons have been sent to jail while the vigilance unit in Dehradun and Haldwani arrested 14 personnel red handed for corruption last year. Further, action was also taken in cases of disproportionate assets and irregularities in construction works. The vigilance team caught Irrigation department review officer KP Thapliyal, Roorkee revenue inspector Rajkumar, Haridwar electricity SDO SK Sharma, Haridwar revenue sub inspector NK Saini, Doiwala revenue inspector (Kanungo) Motilal, Jwalapur registrar Kanungo Rajesh Kumar and Roorkee Mandi inspector Shivmurti Singh red handed while accepting bribes from complainants. Various other government employees were also caught red handed while taking bribes from complainants in various parts of the State. In addition to this, action was also taken in disproportionate assets cases against former IAS officer Ram Vilas Yadav and the then ARTO of Rishikesh Anand Kumar Jaiswal.
The then ranger Brij Bihar Sharma and former forest conservator Kishan Chand were also arrested after investigation confirmed their role in corruption in Kandi road construction and other works in Corbett national park.Dhami stressed that the State government has decided to take strong action against the criminal elements facilitating malpractices in various examinations. The cabinet has decided to bring a strict law against such elements.
