Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced to set up two vigilance courts- one each at Dhenkanal and Angul district.
Attending the valedictory programme of Vigilance Awareness Week here at Rabindra Mandap, Patnaik said his government has always been emphasising on a transparent governance system.
"The government has been very keen on transparency in governance. The State vigilance is very actively following the anti corruption drive. We have opened vigilance offices at every revenue district. We have established two additional vigilance courts in Sundergarh and Cuttack. Two more vigilance courts will also be opened at Angul and Dhenkanal shortly", Patnaik said.
Similarly, vigilance director Rajendra Prasad Sharma said his department has registered 449 cases this year, which include cases against 64 Class- I officers.
"Last year, the vigilance had registered 464 cases; whereas during this year till September we have already registered 449 cases. We have booked cases against 64 Class-I, 74 Class-II and 315 Class-III officers", Sharma said while addressing the programme.
He also pointed out that the vigilance had arrested 288 accused in different cases and forwarded them to the court in 2005. This year till September, 285 accused persons have been arrested, which include 29 Class-I and 27 Class-II officers, he added.
Likewise, 78 cases were closed in 2015 while 57 cases ended by September this year. As many as eight Class-I and six Class-II officers have been convicted, Sharma maintained.
During the last five years 134 public servants including five Class-I, 15 Class-II and 108 Class-III public servants have been dismissed from service, consequent upon their conviction in vigilance cases, the vigilance director said.
Sharma congratulated all his colleagues and supporting officials on the occasion for performing superb this year.