VISAKHAPATNAM: The Central Vigilance Commission is strongly in favour of constituting special courts to deal with corruption cases to ensure speedy disposal.
Asked to comment on the inordinate delay in conviction in corruption cases, Central Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chowdary told The Hindu here on Saturday that the CVC had requested the Centre to consider establishing more special courts to dispose of the cases in fast-track mode.
Mr. Chowdary, who was here to address students at a meeting conducted by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust and the Dredging Corporation of India, said the Centre was considering the request in consultation with the Supreme Court.
According to him, a review made by the CVC has revealed that over 3,500 cases are pending before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for over five years.
He said that they were initiating measures to dispose of the cases in less than 20 months from the New Year.
“At present, there are about 20 special courts. Manpower shortage as well as procedural complications are mostly leading to delay in most cases,” he pointed out.
He said that the CVC was keen on introducing perception index in government departments and public sectors so as to involve the public actively in the crusade launched against corrupt practices.
Mr. Chowdary, former chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, said that the Prevention of Corruption Act was being amended to make it stronger and bring intermediaries involved in corruption cases under punishable purview.
“Those who receive and encourage corruption should be brought to book,” he said.
Expressing concern over delay in awarding justice, he said delayed justice was one of the reasons for exposing less number of corrupt cases.
After he took over as the Central Vigilance Commissioner in June 2015, it was found that cases had been pending for 18-94 months. Of the 80,000 complaints received, only 2,000 to 3,000 were actionable. Many complaints were lodged with fictitious names and without any name or substance.
He wondered how 200 claim cases lodged in connection with damage caused during cyclone Hudhud in Visakhapatnam were still pending, and made a strong pitch for well laid procedures to handle such claims.
