Conviction rate in vigilance cases reached 46% this year, brags Odisha CM

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury
Bhubaneswar, Oct 27:

Maintaining that the conviction percentage in vigilance cases had reached a record 46% this year, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said vigilance courts have convicted 503 public servants while 137 persons have been dismissed from service on grounds of corruption during last five years in the state.

“During the past 5 years, 503 public servants have been convicted by the Vigilance Courts and 137 public servants have been dismissed from service on grounds of corruption, which is a major step towards cleansing public life,” said the Chief Minister on the occasion of vigilance week celebration.

He said that the government had established as many as 15 Special Vigilance Courts in the state for expeditious trial of corruption related cases.

“The role of responsive, well informed, and vigilant citizens in fighting the menace of corruption is paramount, and this Week gives us an occasion to raise the awareness of our people,” said the chief minister.

Stating that corruption in high places affects badly the morale of subordinate public servants and has larger impact in the society, he said the State Government had always laid much emphasis on maintenance of the highest standard of integrity and probity among senior public servants, including those holding high political offices.

Emphasising that Odisha is the first state in the country to enact the Special Courts Act towards achieving probity, he said the endeavour of the government had received nation-wide recognition as the State Governments of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have enacted legislations on the line of the Odisha Special Courts Act.

Under the aegis of this Act, two Special Courts have been established at Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. So far, 176 cases of corruption had been transferred to these Special Courts for expeditious trial and 20 accused persons holding high public offices have been convicted, said the Chief Minister.

He said the government has initiated several e-governance projects in order to promote greater transparency in government services and convenience to the people.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that such initiatives have yielded satisfactory results in improvement of the quality of living conditions of the common people. A lot of areas of public services are yet to be covered. Let us resolve to firmly implement the principles of integrity and probity in our lives, “said the chief minister.