449 gazetted officers facing corruption charges

As many as 449 Gazetted officers in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been ranked as the second most corruption-ridden state in India, have been facing trial in Courts in different corruption cases. Arteev Sharma reports.

As many as 449 gazetted officers in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been ranked as the second most corruption-ridden state in India, have been facing trial in Courts in different corruption cases.

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Chief minister Omar Abdullah, in a written reply to the question of the Independent MLA from Langate engineer Abdul Rashid, told the Legislative Assembly that 210 cases involved 449 gazetted officers are pending before the Courts of Special Judge Anti-Corruption in Jammu and Srinagar.

The Gazetted officers including former directors social welfare and agriculture Kashmir, former chief engineers irrigation & flood control and roads & buildings, Kashmir division, executive engineers, block medical officers (BMOs) and block development officers (BDOs) are among prominent Gazetted officers who still are being tried against corruption charges.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah said that there will be no immunity to any one whosoever he may be against corruption and malpractices. "Restoration of peace in the State and catching the bull of corruption by horns will be my cherished objectives in 2011", he said and promised action against the big fishes of corruption.

The J&K was ranked as the 'number: 2 corrupt State in India' during the Congress-PDP coalition regime in Jammu and Kashmir.