The Madras High Court has observed that residents of Greater Chennai Corporation are “absolutely frustrated” over corrupt activities of the civic body officials, who demand bribe for approvals, certificates and documents. It has directed the commissioner to provide details of action taken by him to keep corruption under check.
Justice S.M. Subramaniam directed Commissioner D. Karthikeyan to submit by August 27 a report on alleged nexus between corporation, police, electricity board, Metrowater officials and local politicians.
“Stern action is highly warranted in this regard,” the judges said and sought details related to inspections carried out by the officials to make sure that all buildings were constructed as per approved plans and the kind of action initiated so far against buildings constructed in deviation of the approved plans.
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The judge also wanted to know the number of instances in which officials were booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the way in which the vigilance cell in civic body was functioning. He called for details regarding the action taken so far by the vigilance cell against the employees of the corporation.
He directed the commissioner to clarify whether the corporation had verified the property details of its own officials. The judge wanted action to be initiated against officials who had failed to collect property tax promptly thereby causing huge loss to the public exchequer.
He directed the commissioner to spell out the action initiated against erring officials for negligence and dereliction of duty.
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