Date:06/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030650010100.htm

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Samal report: walkout by TDP, BJP

Special Correspondent

N. Janardhan Reddy questions why the VC post is left vacant

VC post will be filled shortly, says Higher Education Minister
TDP leader demands action against those mentioned in Samal report

HYDERABAD: The issue of alleged corruption in higher echelons of the State administration involving IAS officers and some Ministers referred in R. C. Samal’s report rocked the Assembly on Wednesday, leading to a protest walkout by Telugu Desam and BJP members.

Raising the issue, N. Janardhan Reddy (Telugu Desam) wanted to know why the Vigilance Commissioner (VC) post was not filled after retirement of R. C. Samal five months ago, and demanded action against those mentioned in his report.

Deputising for the Chief Minister, Higher Education Minister D. Srinivas replied that the post of Vigilance Commissioner would be filled shortly and action, if any, on Samal report would be taken once the committee headed by the Chief Secretary submitted its views. Mr Samal did not submit any report while in office and instead, released a “monograph” to the press after his retirement citing some officers and Ministers as corrupt. A privilege motion moved against Mr Samal by some MLAs was pending disposal, he added.

The Minister said though the document lacked official sanctity, the Government had taken serious note of Mr. Samal’s charges. “We too want the administration clean”.

Advisory in nature

Mr. Srinivas said the post of Vigilance Commissioner was advisory in nature and created primarily to ensure uniform punishments to the officers and employees of different departments found corrupt.

The Government could differ with the Commissioner’s recommendations and had actually done so in 75 cases. However, there was no interference from the Government or the Chief Minister at any stage in the VC’s functioning..

Disagreeing with the Minister, Mr. Janardhan Reddy alleged that the Government itself was corrupt and had shut its eyes to graft by Ministers and officers.

He demanded tabling of the Lok Ayuktha’s report on Yellampalli “irregularities” and the Upa Lok Ayuktha’s report on the Kalwakurthy “muddle”. Resenting the Minister’s reply, he led his group out in protest. G. Kishen Reddy (BJP) followed suit.