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)