Judge poses questions to authorities on bribe in govt depts

The Madras High Court today said it was necessary for the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti- Corruption (DVAC) to monitor those offices, where the public felt the work would not be done without bribing officials.

Justice N Kirubakaran said this while passing interim orders on a petition for direction to the Sub-Registrar of Pammal to register a document pending for the past one year.

Raids on the registration offices a month ago had yielded a huge sum of money collected through corrupt means, the judge observed.

As the purchasing power of the common man has gone up and the wages have increased, the people tend to purchase properties. That is the reason why the number of registrations in the Sub-Registrar's office has increased, he said.
 

The judge impleaded the Secretary, Commercial Taxes, Registration department and the DGP in the petition and directed them to answer a set of queries byDecember 4.

He asked whether the respondents were aware that the registrars and other officials of Registration departments were employing third parties to collect money over and above the amount payable for registration of documents.

Whether high-ranking officials conducted raids or inspections of these offices and if any departmental action has been taken against the erring officials, the judge asked.

Why the Sub-Registrar has retained the documents of the petitioner for more than one year, the judge asked and posted the matter for further hearing to December 4.