Madras HC questions T.N. over ‘slow’ response to corruption charges against public servants

The Madras High Court on Monday (December 16, 2024) questioned the Tamil Nadu government as to why it was being “very slow” in acting on charges of corruption and misappropriation against government servants despite there being large-scale complaints of even basic services not being provided to people without the “greasing of palms.”

The Madras High Court on Monday (December 16, 2024) questioned the Tamil Nadu government as to why it was being “very slow” in acting on charges of corruption and misappropriation against government servants despite there being large-scale complaints of even basic services not being provided to people without the “greasing of palms.”

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M. Jothiraman directed the Home Secretary to explain to the court by January 6, 2025, the stand of the State government with respect to the complaints of corruption in government departments, including uniformed services, across Tamil Nadu.

The Bench also wanted to know whether the government was effectively exercising control over uniformed personnel in the State and whether it was closely monitoring as well as initiating action against lapses, dereliction of duty, and abuse of power by the Police and Prison department officials.

“It is painful to note that poor people have to shell out thousands of rupees as bribe money even to get nativity certificates, patta, and such other documents. When government servants get their salaries and allowances on time, why do they let the poor suffer?” asked Justice Subramaniam.

Though actions were being initiated promptly against political opponents under the Prevention of Corruption Act, it appears that a similar interest is not shown in prosecuting bureaucrats and other public servants who swindle public money, the senior judge in the Division Bench said.

The observations were made during the hearing of a writ petition complaining about some prisoners not having been paid wages for months together. The petitioner’s counsel M. Radhakrishnan and P. Pugalenthi highlighted to the court several corrupt practices allegedly happening in the Prison department.

The advocates produced a 2022 report of the Principal Accountant General regarding unwarranted expenditure of ₹5.57 crore having been incurred by the Prison department towards the purchase of raw materials for the products made by the prisoners and also for paying wages to them.