Special vigilance courts to be set up in all 9 divisions, says Samrat

Patna: The state govt will set up special vigilance courts at the headquarters of all nine divisions to ensure speedy disposal of corruption cases, CM Samrat Choudhary announced on Thursday while unveiling a series of measures aimed at strengthening the state’s anti-corruption framework.Addressing the Bihar Satarkata Jagrukta Diwas (Vigilance Awareness Day) programme at Gyan Bhavan, Samrat also launched Vigilance Awareness Week and introduced the ‘Triple T’ model of governance with the three Ts standing for transparency, technology and trust.He said special vigilance courts would be established in Patna, Magadh, Tirhut, Saran, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Munger divisions to ensure corruption cases are disposed of quickly and those found guilty are punished.

He also announced transport allowance for govt witnesses appearing in criminal and economic offence cases.As part of the anti-corruption drive, Samrat said vigilance police stations would be opened in all 38 districts and vigilance outposts at all 107 sub-divisional headquarters. He also announced schools would be opened on properties confiscated from identified corrupt persons.“Our govt will take strict action against ministers, MLAs and officials from top to bottom, if they are found to be involved in corrupt practices,” Samrat said.

“The considered view of the govt is that the development with justice will be possible in the state if and only if the benefits of its policies and welfare schemes are able to reach the last person without any irregularity in between,” he said, asking the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, Special Vigilance Unit and Economic Offences Unit to take direct action against corrupt elements.Samrat said the economic offences unit and vigilance investigation bureau should induct experts and strengthen their capabilities so that even the Enforcement Directorate and CBI seek their assistance in special circumstances.He urged officials to abandon shortcuts and perform their duties with honesty and dedication, saying justice for the poor remained the govt’s top priority. During the programme, Samrat unveiled the new logo of the VIB. Senior ministers and officials also took a pledge to discharge their duties with “utmost honesty, transparency and impartiality”.