13 March 2019
Judge Subramaniam said in his order, ‘Corruption is spreading like cancer in our great nation. The common man is absolutely frustrated in respect to the corrupt activities in public offices and by the public servants.’ Madras High Court asked the Vigilance personnel in Tamil Nadu to conduct periodical raids in taluk offices, where it said bribe was demanded for issuing every document such as a legal heir certificate.
Justice S M Subramaniam noted that the common man was absolutely frustrated by the corrupt activities in public offices and by public servants and said all higher officials, including the courts, must take note of the prevailing situation and deal with the cases appropriately.
The petitioner was holding the post of special tahsildar (land acquisition) and he was suspended several months after a case was registered against him in 2016 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The delay arose as the District Collector was not informed of the case registered against the tahsildar. But as soon as he was informed, he had issued the suspension order.
Courts could not show any leniency or misplaced sympathy in corruption cases, Justice Subramaniam said and held that a suspension order of a government employee could not be quashed merely on the ground that there was a delay in issuing it.
