Direction of Lokayukta is undermined by Odisha Vigilance

 

Direction  of  Lokayukta, Odisha  is undermined , ignored  and bypassed by  Govt. of Odisha and  Corrupt  Public Servants  well-protected by Nabin Patnaik Govt.

 

Lokayukta, Odisha maintained ominous silence when the issue of non-compliance of  its  direction is raised.

 Case Study-3

As  envisaged, the mandate  of the Lokayukta, Odisha  under  Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014  is  to inquire into allegation of corruption against   Public servants  and Public authorities  and  prosecute  them  as per law. While  inquiring  into  the  allegation of the  corruption,  the Lokayukta  is empowered to issue  appropriate  direction to  the  competent  authorities  to initiate  disciplinary proceedings  against  the  public servants .  Within one  and half  years of its  functioning, the  Odisha Lokayukta  has  given   direction   in so many cases  to the competent  authority  to take  legal action against  the   corrupt  public  servants. But  the  competent  authorities  under Govt. of Odisha  are  not  only  dilly-dallying  with  this  order  but  simply  ignored  the  order  of the  Lokayukta   without  taking  any  action against  corrupt  officials for  years  together. Lokayukta, Odisha washes  its   hand  just  passing  order  without  monitoring whether  its  order  implemented  or enforced.  Corrupt officials are seen protected by Govt.  of Odisha.  We  honestly  feel that  if this  trend  continues,   the  ethos  of  Lokayukta Law will  be  in jeopardy  and  the  institution of Lokayukta will be  redundant  in the  coming  days.

 

I  present  herewith   a Case  Study ( LY Case No.- 371/2019 )  about  how   Director, Vigilance  is sitting idle  on  order  of Lokayukta, Odisha   for action  against  the  officials  involved in Rs. 5 crore  loot  in Jajpur Tahasil, Jajpur  

 

Date	Details of cases
26.9.20	Complaint  was filed  before  Lokayukta , Odisha  seeking  an inquiry  into   misappropriation of  Rs. 5 crore by officials  of Jajapur Tahasil, Jajpur after getting  all  information under RTI Act. The  Special Audit Report  No. 02/2017-2018  submitted  to Govt.  has  made  detailed  description  of  how   around Rs. 5 crore has  been  misappropriated  by a bunch  of Govt. official  of Jajpur  Tahasil   starting  from Tahasildar to Head Clerck, Nazir  and many  others. The  Audit  has  strongly  recommended for  departmental  proceedings  and /or prosecution  at the  earliest moment under OCS (CAA &A) Rules, 1962/OCS (PENSION) Rules, 1992 on the basis  of audit paras.
10.12.19	Complaint petition was registered in the Lokayukta, Odisha  as LY Case No.  371/2019. Hearing the case, Lokayukta issued notice dt. 10.12.19  to the  Director, State  Vigilance  to inquire  into the  matter  and  submit  the  report.
6.3.20	The Supdt. Of Police, Vigilance, Cuttack Division submitted  the  detailed  report before  the  Lokayukta, Odisha. In this report, he  has  submitted  with reference  to report  of EO  that “  Enquiry  Officer  has  recommended for  registration of  two  criminal cases (  a  criminal case  against Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Ex-Nazir, Sri Sarat Ch. Barik, Ex-incharge  Head Clerck ( Retd. ), Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, Ex-Head Clerck  &  Sri  Gourahari Behera , Ex-Tahasildar , all  Ex-officials  of Jajpur  Tahasil  u/s  13(2) r/w 13(1) (c )(d) of P.C.Act 1988/409/477-A/120-B IPC  for  misappropriation of Govt. money  of Rs. 79,52,613.00  during  the  period  from 31.3.2009  to 28.5.2010.  Another  Criminal case  against Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Ex-Nazir, Sri Sarat Ch. Barik, Ex-Nazir, Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, Ex-Head Clerck  & Smt. Mamata Barik, Ex- Tahasildar , all Ex-officials  of Jajpur  Tahasil  u/s  13(2) r/w 13(1) (c )(d) of P.C.Act 1988/409/477-A/120-B IPC  for  misappropriation of Govt. money of Rs. 2,26,69,825.00 during  the period  from 20.9.2010 to 31.10.2013.” The SP, Vigilance, Cuttack Division  also submitted that the Enquiry Officer (EO)   has  also recommended  for  initiation  of Regular Departmental action  against Sri Rajat Kumar  Routray, Ex-Nazir, Jajpur  Tahasil  A/pr. Senior  Clerck , Vyasanagar Tahasil, Jajpur  ( Group-C)  with  recommendation  for  recovery  of  misappropriated  amount  of Rs. 72,432/- from him. further  recommended for  registration of criminal case  against Sri Rajat Kumar Routray, Ex-Nazir, Sri Sarat Ch. Barik, Ex-Nazir, Sri Ajay Kumar Sahu, Ex-Head Clerck  & Smt. Mamata Barik, Ex- Tahasildar , all Ex-officials  of Jajpur  Tahasil  u/s  13(2) r/w 13(1) (c )(d) of P.C.Act 1988/409/477-A/120-B IPC  for  misappropriation of  Rs. 12,11,335.00  from 1.6.2020 to  6.2.2014.  showing fake  purchases  of different articles  and amount  collected  in different  dates not taking  to cash book in Jajpur Tahasil.
6.3.20	Following  the  details of  the  submission made  by the SP, Vigialnce, Cuttack Division,  the Lokayukta, Odisha  closed  the case . “ We  now  expect  and hope  that Director, Vigilance  will leave  no stone  unturned  to ensure that  guilty  officials  involved  in corruption  are  punished severely  by the  competent  courts.”
2.11.20	Having seen  non- registration of the case and no  progress  in  inquiry,  another  complaint  was filed before  Lokayukta, Odisha  for  seeking  urgent  action. Lokayukta has not yet   registered  the case.

 

 Sarbeswar Behura

M- 9437459949

Date-19.11.20

 

( Presented  in the Press Meet  organized by OSAA  held at Bhubaneswar  on 19.11.20)