Jammu, May 26: The State Vigilance Organisation seems to be sleeping over the repeated requests by the state Transport department which is finding it difficult to control rampant corruption at different levels and has asked the former to conduct a secret inquiry into the day to day conduct of its employees.
Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that Transport Commissioner has sent at least three requests to State Vigilance Organisation to ‘spy’  on its employees to identify the black sheep resorting to corrupt practices.
They said that the requests were made following repeated complaints of corruption especially in various sections of Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across the state.
“The officials in the department from top to bottom are indulging in corrupt practices which has created a worrisome situation for the people,” said an official in the department, preferring not to be named.
He said the senior officials in the department were keen to check the menace and had requested the VO to conduct a secret inquiry. However, the requests have received cold shoulder from the Vigilance officials as no step has been taken in this direction so far.
Sources said that the letter mentions that there was well-knit nexus between officials and private agents, which has led to loss of crores of rupees to state exchequer. “It is because of the nexus that the miscreants, cheaters and fake agents survive despite repeated raids by police,” sources said adding even when departmental action is initiated against such erring officials, the orders and files go missing enabling such element to escape law.
Sources added that some ‘blue-eyed’ officials in the department were enjoying prize postings despite several cases of corruption pending against them.
Transport Commissioner, Dr Sayed Fazalullah, refused 
to comment on the matter. “I have nothing to say in this matter,” he told this correspondent.
However, the Transport minister Qamar Ali Akhoon said the department was competent to initiate action against any official resorting to corrupt means. “Whenever such cases come to our notice we take tough action against the officials found involved in corruption,” the minister said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 IST