J&K HC wants laws to confiscate property of corrupt persons

Disposing of a write petition, Justice Muzaffar Attar directed "the State of Jammu and Kashmir to take steps for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act or make new laws for retrieving the wealth and for confiscating properties which have been accumulated through corrupt practices."

Justice Attar dismissed a petition filed by Mohammad Amin Beigh who was seeking quashing of his detention under the Public Safety Act.

Beigh, a resident of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, was slapped with PSA by District Magistrate Srinagar earlier this year after police investigation revealed that he was involved in monetary and sexual exploitation of women under the garb of providing them employment.

Justice Attar said the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Constitution of India had guarantees of protection against exploitation of the fairer sex and upholding of their rights.

"The court is not oblivious of the fact that providing such kind of protections and facilities depend upon the economic strength of the State. India is a rich country. Its material resources are immense. When the material resources of the State will be taken care of and dealt with honestly, it would definitely ensure that no person in this country would die because of hunger," Justice Attar said in his 19-page order issued yesterday.

Observing that the insatiable human greed has caused irreparable damage to the economic and moral fabric of the society, the court said the unbridled desires of an individual when ride rough shod, create imbalance in society.

"The greatest challenge to the body politic is from hydra-headed monster of corruption. The menace of corruption has corroded the basic human values. It has created neo-rich class in the society. Corrupt people are parasites who swell themselves by sucking blood of the poorest of poor," the judge said. MORE