In order to curb irregularities and corrupt practices, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Commissioner of Madurai Corporation to set up vigilance booths in the front desk of all Corporation offices/buildings to enable residents to submit complaints against such practices. The court also ordered the installation of CCTV cameras to monitor their functioning.
Justice S.M. Subramaniam directed the Commissioner to also strengthen the vigilance cell of the Madurai Corporation and issue suitable orders for its efficient functioning. Vigilance booths shall be set up within four weeks, enabling residents to provide information or complaints on irregularities or corrupt practices.
These booths should function under the direct control of the Commissioner and all complaints received should be communicated to him. Adequate display boards and notices at the Corporation offices should indicate that corruption was a heinous crime.
The vigilance cell should form secret teams to conduct surprise inspections of the functioning of Madurai Corporation. The employees should furnish details of their properties, which should verified. Appropriate action should be initiated against the employee if any irregularity was found, the court said.
Further, the HC directed the Commissioner to constitute special vigilance teams within 12 weeks to inspect all ongoing building projects and any violations and unauthorised constructions should be dealt with immediately.
The HC said that a review meeting should be conducted with all officials within four weeks to identify encroachments, unauthorised and unlawful occupation of Corporation lands and buildings and appropriate action initiated for eviction.
Petition
The court was hearing a petition filed by Madurai Corporation Sanitary Inspectors and Sanitary Officers’ Welfare Association, which said work allotted to its members could not be completed in time as a number of Sanitary Inspectors were serving in the civic body.
Disposing of the petition, the court said such arguments could not be considered by it. Rationalisation of works was to be done by competent authorities and public servants were bound to work wherever they were posted and whatever work was allotted to them.
Drawing parallels with similar corrupt practices prevalent in Chennai Corporation, the court said the IAS officers must be brave enough to bring down such practices.
The residents of Madurai were already frustrated with the performance of the Corporation. The infrastructure facilities provided were not commensurate with collection of taxes. The manner in which the Corporation was being administered had attracted residents’ irk, the court said.