The conviction percentage in Vigilance cases has reached a record 48 per cent this year. Thanks to the investigators, prosecutors and effective prosecution in courts, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday. “Our continued emphasis on effective prosecution in courts has started yielding rich dividends and the conviction percentage in Vigilance cases has reached a record 48 per cent this year. The investigators and prosecutors of the department deserve appreciation,” said Patnaik while addressing a Vigilance Awareness Week ceremony. Maintaining that the pioneering efforts both in legislation and implementation of the Government have received nation-wide recognition, Patnaik said the Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan Governments have enacted similar legislations in the line of the Odisha Special Courts Act.
“The real objective of having a clean and transparent mechanism requires system strengthening. The system works between the public who need to avail services from the Government and the officials who provide the service for the Government. This system of service delivery needs to be strengthened persistently with appropriate mechanism,” said Patnaik. In the last five years, the Vigilance had received a total of 2,335 cases. Of these cases, 431 related to disproportionate assets, 924 trap cases and 942 corruption cases.
Vigilance Director KB Singh said the Vigilance department would soon form a technical committee which would put a strict vigil on big tendering activities. The Vigilance Awareness Week is being observed this year with the theme “Preventive vigilance as a tool of good governance”.
Patnaik released a special postal cover and a short film on Vigilance Helpline-1064. He awarded several officers for their outstanding performances. The Sambalpur Vigilance Division received prize as the best division. Bhubanesar MP Prasanna Patsani and Chief Secretary GC Pati also attended the event.