Himachal withdraws legislation to seize illegal assets of officials

The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Thursday withdrew a legislation passed by the previous BJP government that was aimed at enabling speedy trial and confiscation of ill-gotten money and property by public servants.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh moved a proposal to withdraw the Himachal Pradesh Special Courts (Attachment and Confiscation of Property) Bill, 2011.

Sources told IANS that the bill, passed unanimously on August 30, 2011, was yet to get the president's assent.

BJP leader and former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who got the legislation passed, informed the assembly that "if the government is convinced that, prima facie, a public servant has amassed wealth and properties by corrupt practices, an application can be made to the special court".

"If the offence is proved, the authorised officer will serve a 15-day notice on the public servant concerned, asking him to explain why all or any such property should not be confiscated," it added.

The legislation had proposed setting up of special courts to ensure prompt trial of such offences.