House okays anti-graft Bill
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04 2013: With Members of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today upholding Manipur Public Servants' Personal Liability Amendment Bill 2013, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, holding the Finance portfolio, exuded confidence that enactment of the anti-graft law will ensure effective punitive action against employees involved in financial irregularities.

Joining the debate on the Bill, Ibobi said as the Bill was initially placed for amendment before the House in 2006 which will cover financial liability cases four years prior to the inform Act.

Out of 28 financial liability cases prior to 2006, 11 are still pending in the Court while eight of the cases have been closed, said the CM while revealing that after 2006 there has been financial liability cases amounting to about Rs 20 crore.

He further informed that for recovery of financial losses and punitive action against officials involved in graft cases the matter would be investigated by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary while financial irregularities involving Ministers/MLAs would be probed by a committee headed by the Chief Minister.

Asserting that the investigation procedure would be fair and transparent irrespective of influential individuals involved in graft cases, the CM assured the members that if the need arises for further amendment to the Act legal experts would be consulted.

Sharing his views on the Bill, Trinamool Congress legislator Dr I Ibohalbi opined that the principles and objectives of the anti-graft law are appreciable but regretted that the Act made no mention about bringing financial liabilities involving District Councils and Zilla Parishads under the ambit of the Act.

He also sought an explanation from the CM on the probe modalities and punitive action, if any, that would be initiated against District Council and Zilla Parishad members.

Keishamthong AC MLA L Ibomcha of nationalist Congress Party suggested that 'penalty and fine' clauses be deleted from the Act the legislation is meant to recover the lost amount.

Members of the House later unanimously approved enactment of the Bill as an Act.

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