C'garh to have special courts for graft cases

The Chhattisgarh Assembly today passed the Chhattisgarh Special Courts Act, 2015, which empowers the government to confiscate the assets of government employees if such assets are amassed through corrupt means.
Under the Act, special courts would be set up to deal with the corruption and bribery cases.
Tabling the proposal for discussion on the bill, Chief Minister Raman Singh said, "It is a historic occasion for the state Assembly. We are going to provide substantial powers to the investigating agency which would facilitate getting the result of its action."
"It will empower it to confiscate the assets of officials and employees that are amassed through corrupt means.

"It is an initiative under the state government's zero tolerance policy towards corruption. Chhattisgarh has now become the third state to bring such a law after Bihar and Madhya Pradesh," the Chief Minister said.
Replying to the debate on the bill, he said it was aimed at ensuring that corruption cases are disposed without any delay.

If the investigating agency finds property bought by civil servants or their relatives from ill-gotten money, it can move an application before the special court for seizure.
The government servant would be served a notice, and the case would be disposed off within a year.

The officer would have 30 days to file appeal in the High Court.
If, during the hearing, the investigating agency comes to know that the concerned public servant is trying to sell off such a property, the agency will have the power to prohibit the transaction.
The existing cases could also be referred to the special courts, the CM informed the House.
The bill was passed with a voice vote.