State uses the Net to rein in IAS, IPS officers………Surendra Gangan
Mumbai: Presented with results of a survey that pegged corruption among IAS and IPS officers at a staggering 98%, the state government on Friday announced that these officers would have to display their assets on the internet every year.
Minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe announced this in the state assembly. He said all information about civil officers including their assets will be uploaded on the internet.
The demand came up in the state assembly during the private member bill tabled by BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, who claimed that the state administrative department was more corrupt than politicians.
“A survey has revealed that corruption by officers is 98%, while only 2% of politicians were corrupt. Politicians declare their assets every five years. Officers should be made to do so as well,” he said.
He also demanded an all-party committee to be appointed to formulate a policy to check corruption in the system. “The government should initiate action in the golden jubilee year of the state to contain corruption. A committee should be formed comprising social workers like Anna Hazare, Abhay Bang, Prakash Amte and former civil servants with a good track record, to probe these officers,” Mungantiwar said.
He also demanded that the officers be brought under the gamut of the RTI Act. “When I sought information of assets of IAS officials, I was denied it. They make money using their administrative powers,” he alleged.
Predictably, the move has not gone down well down with IAS officers in the state.
An officer in Mantralaya, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The state government will have to request the central government to amend the All India Services Rule applicable to us. Secondly, if the government is so serious about corruption of IAS officials, there are existing acts that could be used. Apart from the Income Tax Act, every officer has higher authority – like the chief secretary has the chief minister above him – that can keep tabs on him,” he added.
A few months ago, the Central Information Commission had said all government officialscome under the ambit of RTI.