Jammu:  The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday tabled a bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 in the Legislative Assembly to make offences under the act cognisable and non-bailable.
Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs Abdul Rahim Rather introduced the bill to amend the “Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006” on behalf of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The amendment aims at making offences under the act cognisable and non-bailable, besides enhancing the punishment, the objects and reasons of the bill stated.
The amendment bill incorporates recommendations by a committee constituted by the government for the purpose.
The amendment bill seeks insertion of new provisions to prevent exercise of personal influence with public servants, to show favour or disfavour to any person, or to influence the decision making by public servant.
Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone also introduced another bill to amend the “Kashmir and Jammu Universities Act, 1969”.
Meanwhile, the government has granted sanction of prosecution of 132 officials in 92 cases registered by State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) and Crime Branch during the last three years.
In a written reply to a question of BJP member Ashok Khajuria in state Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that sanction has been given for prosecution of 132 officials in connection with 92 cases registered by SVO and Crime Branch during the last three years.
While sanction was given against 118 officials in 85 cases registered by the Vigilance, the same was granted against 14 officials against whom Crime Branch had registered seven cases.
The two agencies had sought the required sanction for the prosecution of 155 officials of the state government and PSUs in 107 cases during the last three years, he said.
Sanction was sought for 137 officials in 97 cases registered by SVO and 18 officials in 10 cases registered by Crime Branch, Omar said.—PTI

KR Desk