Srinagar: The state government has failed to develop a mechanism of internal vigilance in departments as was recommended by the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) years ago.
In view of the rising corruption, the SVC had recommended the state government to ensure surveillance in every department, especially in the offices dealing with the issuances of NOCs and other permissions.
It included the offices of Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar and Patwaris, where from the commission had received maximum complaints of corruption.
Much emphasis was given to cover every action in the places of public dealing especially those involved in the issuance of revenue record copies, income certificates and category reservation documents.
Sources said the recommendation has remained confined to paperwork only.
They said the departments, which installed he recommended CCTV cameras, have kept the certain sections out of surveillance.
“The CCTVs have been installed but not at the mentioned sections or offices. These cameras are mostly seen installed either outside the main gate or at the corridor,” sources said.
The Commission had also recommended installing of CCTVs in the cashier, accounts sections of Executive Engineers of all engineering departments, BDO offices, Traffic Police checking points operating at fixed locations and Municipality offices.
“Numerous reminders have been even sent to these offices, but they never acted,” an official from SVC said.
Other offices of public dealing, which issue Permanent Residence Certificates, gun licenses, character certificates, and category certificates, were also identified to be kept under surveillance.
Similarly, no adherence was seen in the recommendation related to timely updating of information on official websites.
“Similar directions came earlier from Jammu and Kashmir State Information Commission, which was also ignored. Currently we have dozens of government department websites which have not been updates for years or months together,” he said.
The other recommendation, which are not adhered include abolition of premature except on disciplinary grounds, giving adequate publicity about the facilities available in every department in the newspapers.
The SVC earlier this year said that the government departments had not responded to its enquiries for years together.
It earlier this year said 8,935 enquiries are pending with vigilance officers of different government departments for nine years.
