HC denies relief to cop who took ‘mamool’, wants DVAC beefed up

Observing that there should not be any scope for leniency or misplaced sympathy in dealing with the corruption, the Madras High Court directed the State government to take severe actions including filing criminal cases along with disciplinary actions against police who receive ‘mamool’ from the public.

“In cases where receipt of mamool is traced out, criminal cases are to be registered against the police officers involved. Effective monitoring of these offenses is imminent and warranted. The respondent authorities are bound to initiate all steps to ensure that receiving mamool, more specifically in jurisdictional police stations, is effectively controlled,” Justice SM Subramaniam observed on dismissing a petition filed by K Kumardoss, a former policeman. The petitioner sought a direction to set aside the order of punishment of reduction in the time scale of pay by three stages for three years and postponement of future increments for three years. The punishment was ordered since the petitioner collected Rs 100 per week as mamool from a bunk shopkeeper who ran his shop near a Tasmac outlet in Periyar Nagar. Rejecting the plea, Justice Subramaniam held that corruption eats the welfare of the society like a termite and stops the growth of the nation.

The judge also wanted the government to strengthen the Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to ensure periodical surprise inspections and raids to deal with corrupt practices in public services.

“Even as the DVAC is functioning in the State, its size and the number of officials functioning are not in commensurate with the large-scale corrupt practices prevailing in many departments,” the court held.

The judge noted that the assets and liabilities of the department servants are to be periodically verified as the Service Rules require every public servant to furnish the details of assets and liabilities.