Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
The proceeding on mass casual leave by the PCS officers in Punjab and a meeting of the IAS officers with the Chief Secretary and the CM Punjab Bhagawant Singh Mann alleging that the vigilance bureau had not sought a mandatary approval under section 17 (A) of CA before naming Neelma, an IAS officer as an accused in a corruption case and arresting Narinder Singh Dhaliwal,RTO Ludhiana, is an arm twisting move.
When the police arrest the alleged perpetrators of the crime, then it does not require any pre approval,except warrants in some cases.
A common man, who does not have any approach, can be illegally detained in even petty crimes by the police.
But when influential people are found violating the law, they make a lot of hue and cry to stop,delay or halt their arrests and influence inquiries and investigations by all the fair and foul means.
The only one department of the Mann government, the VB is doing a commendable job now by arresting the senior officers apart from the politicians while earlier only small class three employees were nabbed by it sparing the higher ups.
The VB drive against the corrupt might have instilled a fear of being investigated or arrested among the corrupt and they are allegedly feeling insecure.
The government must not bow to the pressure of the IAS and PCS lobby and any shortcoming or technical loopholes, if there are, should be fulfilled or addressed.
If the CM bows to the pressure of these powerful lobbies, he will have nothing to claim as his reforms in the state.
He must address the genuine grievances of the officers, but should not give them a carte blanche to do whatever they like in the state.
In fact, section 17 (a) of the corruption act gives them a technical benefit to get scot free.
Justice says:
"New Section 17-A Of Prevention Of Corruption Act Promotes, Rather Than, Prevents Corruption Justice V Ramkumar 25 Jan 2020 6:03 PM
https://www.livelaw.in/columns/new-section-17-a-of-prevention-of-corruption-act-promotes-rather-than-prevents-corruption-152014
Serction 17(a) of prevention of corruptiona act says:
It may be emphasized here that the provisions of section 17A stipulate a mandatory requirement for a Police Officer to seek previous approval for conducting any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Ac