276 public servants convicted for corruption in Odisha

"The record of our government in fighting the menace of corruption is well known. We make no compromise in maintaining the rule of law and integrity in public life," Patnaik said at a function marking the Vigilance Awareness Week being observed from October 29 to November 3.

Criminal justice system for the vigilance department has been strengthened and eight new special courts set up, as a result of which the number of corruption cases being disposed of in trial has shown a steady increase, he said.

Altogether 265 corruption cases were disposed of in 2011 as compared to 222 cases in 2010 and 154 in 2009, recording an increase of 72 per cent over past two years, Patnaik said.

"Our government has created special dispensation for quick disposal of corruption cases against persons holding high political and public offices and was the first in the country to enact a special law -- the Odisha Special Courts Act -- towards achieving the goal, Patnaik said.

Under the Act, two special courts have been established at Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and so far, 103 cases of corruption have been transferred to these courts for expeditious trial and ten accused persons holding high public offices have been convicted, Patnaik said.

In order to manifestly increase the efficacy of the prosecution, we have made special provisions under the Odisha Special Court Act to expeditiously confiscate the tainted properties of the accused persons that were acquired by corrupt means, he said.

Two courts of Authorised Officers have been set up and 60 confiscation proceedings instituted by the state government under the Act, he said.