Madurai, June 21: Questioning the closure of corruption proceedings against two IAS officers, namely C Kamaraj and Vallalar, despite the availability of prima facie materials for a fraud committed in procuring registers for primary milk cooperative societies, Madras high court has directed the DVAC to register a case against the two officers and the then additional milk commissioner.
The materials available on record are disturbing the conscience of the court. A fraud has been played in procuring registers for the cooperative milk unions," said Justice B Pugalendhi.
Ruing the fact that IAS officers go unpunished despite the fact that no fraud could be committed without their connivance, the court said. The Chief Secretary and Vigilance Commissioner must have the courage and conviction to question the erring IAS officers.
IAS officers are so powerful that not even a single erring officer has ever been punished so far. It can be taken that their batchmates or friends are always there to rescue them.
Present case relates to an ‘oral decision' taken in 2019 to procure and supply accounting registers for primary milk cooperative societies. Tuticorin Cooperative Stores Limited was selected to supply the registers without any written communication.
Vellaiammal, the manager company, procured the registers from Global Traders, run by her husband Kannan. Though six types of registers were to be purchased at a cost of 2,282 each, only three types of registers were supplied at a cost of 2,688, against its own quotation.
DVAC recommenced to register a criminal case against Vellaiammal and her husband Kannan, said Justice Pugalendhi & added that it is not known as to why criminal prosecution was not launched against the officials.
As per the court order, Kamaraj, the then dairy development director and Aavin MD, decided in 2019 that all primary milk co-operative societies should maintain uniformity in accounts using five specific registers.
Quotations were obtained from six co-operative stores, and the Thoothukudi co-operative store, which quoted the lowest price of Rs 2,282.10, was approved.
After Kamaraj’s transfer, Vallalar reapproved the decision in February 2020. Based on their approval, Christhudhas instructed deputy registrars across districts to procure the registers from the Thoothukudi store. However, the price was deliberately omitted in the circular. The store delivered only three types of registers at an inflated cost of Rs 2,688.
An audit revealed this caused a loss of Rs 1.75 crore to co-operative societies. It was also found that the store lacked the infrastructure to supply the registers and that the store manager and her husband had illegally gained Rs 39.45 lakh.
The court remarked that such irregularities show why Aavin lags behind Amul, citing corruption prevailing in the department.
The judge criticised the DVAC for recommending only disciplinary action against Christhudhas while sparing the IAS officers, and pulled up the chief secretary for closing the inquiry against the officers saying the duo was not properly briefed by the staff.
An IAS officer who mechanically signs a document is unfit to be one, the judge said, adding that criminal cases are often registered only against junior officials.
The Chief Secretary and Vigilance Commissioner must have the courage and conviction to act against erring IAS officers,” the judge said. The court then directed the DVAC to register a regular case against all three and complete disciplinary action against Christhudhas within three months.
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