Latest news with #DirectorateofVigilance
India.com
06-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Goa Lokayukta Non-Functional For Six Months, Justice Delayed In 20 Anti-Corruption Cases
The Goa Lokayukta, the state's anti-corruption ombudsman, has been rendered non-functional for the past six months, leaving approximately 20 anti-corruption cases in limbo. The key institution has been without a chief since the tenure of Justice (retd) Ambadas Joshi concluded in December 2024, resulting in significant delays in addressing public grievances. Despite the Directorate of Vigilance writing to the Chief Secretary in February to initiate the shortlisting of retired high court judges for the position, sources indicate that no concrete progress has been made. "The Vigilance Department has not got any communication from the government on the appointment of new Lokayukta. The government has to shortlist the candidates, based on which concurrence of the High Court is sought," informed sources close to the development. The appointment process requires a three-member committee, comprising the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, to finalize the selection once a suitable candidate is identified. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao confirmed the stagnation, stating, "There is no development on it so far. Will be raising the matter with the Chief Minister shortly." The @BJP4Goa, which gave a 'mantra' of zero tolerance to corruption, appears to be deliberately delaying the appointment of a new Lokayukta following the end of Justice (Retd) Ambadas Joshi's tenure in December 2024. Notably, Justice Joshi's appointment came after a six-month gap… — Yuri Alemao (@Yurialemao9) June 27, 2025 While the Lokayukta office continues to accept corruption-related complaints from citizens, it is currently unable to proceed with investigations or actions due to the absence of an appointed Lokayukta. This is not the first instance of a prolonged delay in appointing the head of the anti-corruption body in Goa. Justice Joshi himself was appointed in April 2021, succeeding Justice (retd) P.K. Misra, whose term ended in September 2020, leaving 75 cases pending at that time. Before Joshi's appointment, Justice (retd) U.V. Bakre had initially been shortlisted but withdrew his consent in March 2021 citing personal reasons. Most of the currently pending cases reportedly involve corruption in illegal constructions and the issuance of various permissions. Before the end of his term, Justice Misra had highlighted the perceived weaknesses in Goa's Lokayukta Act, noting that it lacked the robust powers enjoyed by its counterparts in states like Karnataka and Kerala. Goa's first Lokayukta, Justice (retd) Sudershan Reddy, had also resigned within seven months of his 2013 appointment, citing personal reasons, leading to a nearly three-year vacancy before Justice Misra's appointment in April 2016. To facilitate appointments, the State government had amended the Lokayukta Act in 2021, allowing for the appointment of retired high court judges after facing difficulties in securing retired Supreme Court judges or High Court chief justices for the post.
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
L-G gives nod to initiate action against PWD ex-engineer over irregularities in construction of classrooms in Delhi
Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved a proposal from the Directorate of Vigilance to start disciplinary proceedings against a former executive engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) over alleged irregularities and fund mismanagement in the construction of 226 classrooms under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. According to a statement shared by the L-G house on Thursday, the engineer has been transferred out of Delhi and is currently posted with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in Amritsar, Punjab. This decision follows alleged irregularities identified in the implementation of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, a Centre-sponsored initiative aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure in Delhi, which was allocated Rs 38.37 crore for the construction of 226 classrooms across various schools, said officials. 'The situation escalated when a public interest litigation titled Social Jurist, a Civil Rights Group v/s GNCTD and Ors. was filed in the Delhi High Court on June 11, 2019, seeking a directive for the government to hand over possession of six newly constructed school buildings…,' an official added. After the PIL was filed, officials said, the then Chief Secretary probed the matter, during which significant 'irregularities in construction practices and fund management' were uncovered. A committee was also constituted in this matter last year in March to examine the matter. 'The committee's findings, reported last year in May, revealed several lapses on the part of the PWD, including the diversion of funds intended for the construction of 20 classrooms at Trinagar School to Rani Bagh School and the construction of a multi purpose hall without obtaining the necessary approvals. Furthermore, the PWD failed to promptly address site issues, making decisions that lacked proper authority and oversight,' said officials. 'The misconduct in question dates back to 2019, but the case against another officer is considered time-barred due to his retirement from government service. The DOV's proposal has received endorsement from both the Principal Secretary (Vigilance) and the Chief Secretary,' the official added.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Goa vigilance department suspends chief town planner pending ‘disciplinary proceeding'
The Goa government's Directorate of Vigilance Wednesday suspended Rajesh J Naik, the chief town planner (planning) of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department. An order issued by the Directorate of Vigilance said that a 'disciplinary proceeding' against Naik is 'contemplated'. 'Now, therefore, the Governor of Goa, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-rule (1) of Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, hereby places said Rajesh J Naik, the Chief Town Planner (Planning), Town and Country Planning Department, Panaji – Goa, under suspension with immediate effect,' the order said. The suspension comes over two months after a petition was filed in the High Court of Bombay at Goa by some environmental activists. The petitioners sought disciplinary action against the chief town planner for allegedly causing loss of several crores to the exchequer by undervaluing assessment fees for the correction of a zone change of a plot under the contentious section 17 (2) of the Goa TCP Act. The petitioners also sought directions to the state to initiate an inquiry to ascertain the loss caused to the exchequer in the assessment of fees in respect of 120 cases published in the official Gazette for change in zoning under section 17 (2) since April 2024. The activists had also lodged a complaint with the police and vigilance department in February in this regard. Last month, the state government informed the HC that it found 46 beneficiaries of zone change wherein the fees for correction was underassessed. The state had said that a preliminary inquiry had been initiated by the vigilance department and a report would be submitted to the HC. Rajesh J Naik did not respond to calls for a comment. In October last year, members of several citizens' collectives, civil society and villages across the state had staged a protest outside the office of the Town and Country Planning department demanding Naik's resignation. The people had alleged that the chief town planner 'approved, endorsed and signed on' conversion of lakhs of square metres of land in the state under some contentious changes in land use laws, including under section 17 (2) and section 39 (A) of the TCP Act, causing severe damage to the coastal state's ecology.
