The Chhattisgarh Special Courts Bill 2015 was passed by voice vote after discussion in the State Assembly on Thursday. During discussion on the Bill in the House, Chief Minister Raman Singh said that Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have already executed the Bill and Chhattisgarh has become the third State to introduce the Bill.
The powers will be vested upon the investigating agency to take the cases of corruption to its end result. Confiscating the assets of corrupt officials will develop fear among them, said Singh, adding, that through this Bill, the State government is giving shape to its zero tolerance policy and building an atmosphere against corruption.
After discussion, Singh said that the State Cabinet had approved the draft of this Bill on January 28. This provides for an effective deterrent against corrupt public servants. It has many provisions for confiscation of property of corrupt officials acquired through unfair means.
A request will be sent to the High Court for appointment of the judge in the Special Court. He clarified that all those getting salary would come under the purview of this Bill. Old cases of corruption will also be presented to the Special Court.
On the basis of prima facie evidences, the State Government will make announcements and hand over the case to the Special Court. The concerned public servant will be given one month time to put his point. It also has provision for appeal against the decision of the Special Court in the High Court, added Singh.
During discussion, Congress member Satyanarayan Sharma welcomed the move and said that this should have been done much earlier. He said that old cases of corruption should be taken up and properties of corrupt officials should be confiscated.
Sharma further said that the officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), IPS, IFS and IRS should also be taken under the purview of this Bill and properties of corrupt officers should be confiscated. BJP member Shivratan Sharma said that the elected people’s representatives are also considered in the category of public servant in this Bill.
Congress member Rajendra Kumar Rai said that a super scale judge should be appointed in the Special Court. Officers to the level of Additional Directors should be appointed for prosecution. Other members including Dr Vimal Chopra and Devjibhai Patel also expressed their views on the Bill.