NCJ Number
56934
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 19-27
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH CORRUPTION AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE INDIAN STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH PLANS TO CHANGE THE ANTICORRUPTION MECHANISM OF THE STATE.
Abstract
THERE ARE THREE ANTICORRUPTION AGENCIES IN ANDHRA PRADESH: THE ANTICORRUPTION BUREAU (ACB), AN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY; THE TRIBUNAL FOR DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS (TDP), A FACTFINDING BODY WITH POWERS TO SUMMON AND EXAMINE WITNESSES AND DOCUMENTS; AND THE ANDHRA PRADESH VIGILANCE COMMISSION (APVC), THE APEX OF THE STATE'S ANTICORRUPTION SYSTEM. THE APVC IS STAFFED BY A SINGLE APPOINTED COMMISSIONER, WHO ASSESSES THE VALIDITY OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST CIVIL SERVANTS FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES AND RECOMMENDS DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TO ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITIES. BOTH THE ACB AND THE TDP TRANSMIT THEIR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE APVC. THE APVC OCCUPYS A UNIQUE POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND PLAYS A VALUABLE ROLE IN PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST. BUT THE COMMISSION HAS NO AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIGH OFFICIALS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND IS NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL COMPREHENSIVELY WITH ALL GRIEVANCES AND GENERAL COMPLAINTS. ANDHRA PRADESH PLANS TO REPLACE THE APVC WITH TWO INSTITUTIONS--LOK PAL, WHICH WILL DEAL WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTS OF OFFICIALS AT THE CENTRAL AND STATE LEVELS, AND LOK AYUKTA, WHICH WILL DEAL LOCALLY WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST LOWER-LEVEL OFFICIALS. THE PLANNED STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF LOK PAL AND LOK AYUKTA ARE OUTLINED. TABULAR DATA ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ANTICORRUPTION AGENCIES FROM 1964 THROUGH 1971 ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)