At a time when the scale of corruption keeps escalating, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), the state government’s watchdog to check corruption among public servants, has become more or less a toothless tiger.
The data available with the VACB indicate that thousands of cases are still pending with the department which entered its golden jubilee year in 2014.
Interestingly, the conviction rate of the cases registered by the VACB has dipped below 60 percent in the last three years. Though 151, 187 and 101 vigilance cases were registered in 2013, 2012 and 2011 respectively; only 43, 29 and 40 persons were convicted respectively.
The conviction rate which was 60, 70.83 and 80.23 in 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively fell to 59.08 per cent in 2013 and 58 in 2012.
VACB sources, however, maintained that the number of cases now has gone up than in 2010-11.
According to VACB, in 2013 about 1,198 cases were pending trial as against 1,141 in 2012. While 319 cases were pending investigation last year, as many as 137 cases were charge-sheeted and 1,079 surprise checks conducted in 2013.
In 2012-13, the VACB had recommended departmental action against 2,928 officials and of which panchayat and revenue officials came top with 370 and 306 respectively.
K P Vijayakumar, convener of Azhimadhi Virudha Janakeeya Munnani, alleged that since many VACB officials themselves are corrupted, there is a lack of interest on their part to initiate probe after conducting quick verification.
Meanwhile, sources said that numerous cases were pending before the four Vigilance Courts and two tribunals and this is one main reason for the pendency of cases. The department had submitted a proposal to upgrade the two tribunals into courts to deal with the pending cases.
According to sources, the lengthy procedures of the VACB is the cause of low conviction rates.
Vinson M Paul, who recently assumed office as VACB Director, told ‘Express’ that he would definitely look into the matter.