Srinagar, Apr 19: The Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission Act of 2003 has been amended under the banner of J&K State Accountability Commission (Amendment) Act, 2011. The latter is now being referred to as the “Principal Act.”
 The Law Minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar, said the Principal Act has been amended to the extent that the SAC shall exclusively deal with ‘public functionaries’ henceforth while the complaints pertaining to the ‘public servants’ shall be dealt under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act-2010.
 A public functionary, according to the amended Act, means a person who is or was at any time: the Chief Minister or a Minsiter, Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the State Legislative Council, a member of the State Legislature, advisor to Governor, advisor to government including the political advisor to Chief Minister, anyone given the status of a minister or minister of state by the government in connection with discharge of his official functions, or those appointed by the government as Chairmen (other than a government servant) of any statutory corporation or autonomous board.
 A “public servant” means the public servant as defined under section 21 of the State Ranbir Penal Code and includes all officers and employees of the Corporations established in the State by or under any Act of Parliament or the State Legislature, government Companies, societies and Local Authorities owned or controlled by the Central Government or by the State Government.
 “Previously the SAC was hearing the cases of every nature. Now it has been restricted to political persons or public functionaries. We found that hundreds of complaints in SAC were against class fourth employees or contractors. We amended the Act so that it exclusively deals with public functionaries,” Sagar told Greater Kashmir.
 Pertinently, the competent authority in relation to public functionaries in the SAC is Governor of the State.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST