Writ filed for action on Samal report

HYDERABAD: The controversy surrounding former vigilance commissioner Rama Chandra Samal and his report on corrupt bureaucrats in the state has now reached the AP High Court. P N V Prasad, a former TDP leader, filed a writ petition in the high court on Monday seeking directions to the state government to entrust the matter to CBI to find out who is guilty in this case and also the reasons for the inaction of the state government. The petitioner was critical of the attitude of the state government saying that its complacent attitude is giving rise to ramapant corruption in the rank and file of the government machinery. Quoting Samal, the petitioner named - 18 IAS,IPS and IFS officials who were indicted by vigilance commission, ACB,CID and some more officials who were indicted by the CBI - in his petition. He was also critical of the role of the home minister 'who is dropping cases against several corrupt officials'. Prasad also found fault with two senior IAS officers in the CM's peshi who through their whimsical ways are promoting corruption. Quoting Samal, he said "the shortage of truly competent officers to man highest levels in these departments and abundance of inefficient and corrupt officials has resulted in tremendous leakages in expenditure. The public money has gone to private pockets." He also mentioned the petition filed by senior IAS officer Md Shafiquzzaman who sought the details of charges dropped against officials in the state and the recent anguish expressed by a judge of this high court who, after observing the attitude of the state machinery, directed them to furnish such list within two weeks. The petitioner also found fault with the state government which permitted an IAS officer to sue and prosecute former vigilance commissioner Samal.
THE TIMES OF INDIA; 25 Mar 2008, 0152 hrs IST , TNN