Another errant in ACB Net
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There are various types of corruption which are very hard to detect and take a lot of time to prove. However, employees arrested red-handed while taking bribes need immediate action. Such cases do not require further proof beyond being caught in the act. We have not heard of any person arrested while taking a bribe who has been terminated, though such action must follow.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has, over the last few years, made tremendous effort to trap and arrest many employees accepting bribes on the spot, which is highly appreciable and acknowledged by the common people. It is the first police agency to have shown such commitment towards eliminating the menace of corruption in Jammu and Kashmir.
Corruption has long been an integral part of the system in Jammu and Kashmir and may not disappear anytime soon, but things have certainly begun to change at some level. With the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) asserting its presence, those confronting this menace now feel empowered. The problem existed earlier as well, but with little impact. The changing atmosphere must be credited to the administration for adopting a policy of zero tolerance towards this deeply embedded practice.
This is no exaggeration. Daily headlines confirm the spike in arrests made by the ACB, to the point that such cases have now become routine. However, what is truly alarming is that corruption is not the act of a lone “weed”; it contaminates society, weakens systems, and erodes the foundations of the state itself. Government employees form the grassroots face of the administration, they are the eyes and ears of the system, and therefore their conduct must be anchored in integrity.
The recent arrest of a Patwari in Budgam for allegedly demanding a bribe for issuing revenue documents is yet another reminder of how deeply the problem has penetrated the revenue administration, a department that directly touches the lives of common people.
How did we reach this stage? The prolonged conflict diverted attention so extensively that it transformed into an industry in itself. While past governments remained preoccupied with controlling unrest, they overlooked the basic tenets of governance. This neglect allowed dissatisfaction to spread among the masses and nourished anti-state sentiment, sustaining the cycle of instability.How many more before the system admits its problems?
On a societal level, corruption damages the social fabric. It widens class divisions, manipulates inflation, hijacks economic processes, and promotes favouritism. Fundamentally, it is anti-poor. No conscious society can remain indifferent to a menace that threatens its survival.
Post August 5, 2019, termination on the basis of anti-state affiliation has helped restrict radicalisation and provocation. This move was historic for the integrity and sovereignty of the nation, and the same procedure must be followed in corruption cases as well. Action speaks, and it has strengthened people and conveyed a clear message to those who are anti-national. Corruption is no longer a separate issue; it leads to anti-national activities and injustice in society and therefore requires the same treatment. However, the corrupt have no such defence. They must be prosecuted for anti-state conduct before anyone else is placed under scrutiny.
The Manoj Sinha-led administration has shown intent by dismantling the single-dimensional policy framework. However, it must intensify its crackdown on corruption and ensure that officials at higher levels are also held accountable to prevent class-based immunity. Such a policy will not only restore public faith but will also allow the system to replace the corrupt with capable and deserving youth. As Sinha always says, “We will not trouble the innocent, and we will not spare the guilty.”
In the modern era, governance is transforming through technology. Systems are becoming digital, transparent, and direct. Governments across the world now function like efficient enterprises. This is not the time to carry the baggage of outdated political practices aimed at preserving vote banks. It is time for structural overhaul before the next electoral cycle begins.
Immediate action against those caught red-handed is crucial. When the government delays punishment, it inadvertently encourages others to commit similar crimes. Corruption does not only damage merit; it breeds social crimes. It is inseparably linked to justice and injustice. By tolerating corruption, society nurtures all other social evils. Justice can only be delivered when corruption is eliminated.
The revenue department plays a critical role in the everyday lives of citizens. If corruption infiltrates this department, it affects the majority of the population.
