The Central anti-corruption law has come into force in the newly carved Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
After theapplicability of Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act 2019, Central Bureau ofInvestigation can register cases against government employees without any priorpermission from the UT administration.
Union Minister ofState in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh, while responding to aquestion in Parliament has stated: “The CBI could register cases in erstwhileState of Jammu and Kashmir but with a rider that the investigating agency hadto take consent from the State Government for doing so but that rider has nowhas been removed.”
The CBI already hasoffices in Jammu and Kashmir divisions. “These offices are now beingstrengthened in order to take up corruption cases,” another official said.
A senior government officialtold Greater Kashmir that Central Prevention of Corruption Act becameapplicable in J&K and Ladakh from November 1, 2019.
With this, allgovernment employees in the two Union Territories have come within thejurisdiction of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The law emphasizes oncompletion of trial in graft cases within two years.
“The Central Actclearly mentions that under Code of Criminal Procedure, trial of an offenceshall be concluded within two years,” an official said.
Provisions of theCentral Act relating to attachment and forfeiture of property are alsostringent.
Central Governmenthas extended the Central Prevention of Corruption Act as per the provisions ofJ&K Reorganisation Act 2019 – passed by Parliament in August this year.
Earlier, Centrallaws were not directly applicable to J&K State. On August 5, 2019, theCentre abrogated the special status of J&K and bifurcated the State intotwo Union Territories.