CM Gehlot promises protection to whistle-blowers of corruption

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government on Tuesday issued a circular directing the heads of all departments not to harass or maliciously stop work relating to complainants who have raised corruption charges against officials to the Anti-corruption Bureau. In a case of any violation, the government will take strict action, a circular issued by the chief minister’s office states.

The circular is meant to protect whistle blowers who raise corruption allegations against public servants.

In a recently held review meeting at the ACB Headquarters, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said the government will not tolerate corruption at any level and will offer protection to those who raise their voice against corruption.

The circular issued by the home department, states that it has been found that officers and personnel of a department often stalls legitimate work or deliberately harass a person who complains against a public servant. The circular notes that a vindictive attitude from the part of the accused officials often, deters others from raising their voice against corruption in the future and instils a negative mindset in the public, thereby encouraging the corrupt.

The state government has instructed all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries and secretaries to ensure that in their respective departments, legitimate works relating to complainants of corruption are carried out without delay or harassment. The circular also asks the respective department heads to review the works of complainants from time to time.