HP law soon to confiscate assets of corrupt babus

The Himachal Pradesh Special Court Bill,2011 will be introduced in the monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha beginning on August 23.

“There are reports and allegations that some persons holding public offices and who are public servants have acquired vast property,disproportionate to their known sources of income by resorting to corrupt means and there are sufficient reasons to believe that some of these may have substance. It is duty of the state to prosecute such persons involved in corrupt practices and ensure that such ill gotten money and property is confiscated and put to use for the public purpose in the public interest,” the Bill reads.

The Bill further says that existing legal framework is inadequate to try such public servants in a time-bound manner. So,to curb corrupt practices by public servants,it has been decided to bring a special law which provide for speedy trial by special courts,and for confiscation of money and property accumulated by corrupt practices.

The state government,before taking the cabinet’s approval,had invited suggestions from the citizens and also made certain changes in the original draft.

“Now,once the case is registered against any public servant,an application will be moved in the court to attach his property so that it is not transferred,partially or fully,to others. And after the person is convicted,the court will be approached to confiscate the property,money or assets,” home department officials said.

The Bill proposes setting-up of special courts for quick trials of certain categories of offences. If any public servant attempts to transfer the ill-gotten money,such a transfer will be decared “null and void” and will eventually vest with the government.

The government will have the power to put the property either to public use or auction it.

Other Approvals

* To launch ‘Mata Shabri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojna’ to provide 50 per cent subsidy to 5,100 eligible women of SC category belonging to BPL families on purchase of LPG gas connection

* Scheme for providing alternative self-employment opportunities to sex workers after vocational training

* Extension to non-achiever of hydro-power producers charging a fee of Rs 10,000 per MW per month

* Amendments to the HP Taxation (on Certain Goods Carried by Road) (Amendment) Bill,2011; HP Passengers and Goods Taxation (Amendment) Bill,2011; HP Tax on Luxuries (in Hotels and Lodging Houses) Bill,2011,providing traders facility of e-filing of their returns

* Permission to Coastal Projects Ltd to set up a stone crusher at Katinda in Jubbal tehsil to supply grit to Sawra-Kuddu Hydro Electric Power Project.