‘Corruption emanates from Revenue Dept’: Madras High Court

Ascertaining that Manmangalam tahsildar had instructed BDO Thanthoni on November 10, 2018, to file a report on the plea moved by one Senthil for setting right his patta details, Justice S Vaidyanathan said, “In case this court finds that no action has been initiated by the BDO so far, it may direct the authorities to initiate action and recommend for entry of adverse remarks in the Service Register that may hamper his future prospects.”

It was saddening to state that corruption emanated from the Revenue Department, where many of the officials like tahsildars, surveyors, District Revenue Officers, Revenue Divisional Officers, etc., were amassing wealth, the judge said, adding that the officials who hold disproportionate assets could be brought to light if Vigilance probes are initiated.

Many district registrars, sub registrars and their subordinates in the Registration Department also indulge in such practices, he said, adding that there were rampant under the table dealing in the department.

“Even though proceedings are videographed now, the document writers are playing the role of agents to receive bribes. The officials of various Corporations are also in equal competition,” Justice Vaidyanathan added.

The Madras High Court directed the district authorities, PWD and the local panchayat to inspect a waterbody at Endal village in Sankarapuram taluk in Kallakurichi district and remove encroachments if any within 10 weeks. A division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice R Hemalatha issued the direction based on a public interest litigation moved by ERS Mohan of Endal village, stating that the waterbody in the village, which comes under PWD, has water channels leading to the lake. But due to the encroachments, rainwater is unable to go through the channel and reach the lake so as to augment groundwater resources. Though it did not go into the merits of the claim by the petitioner, the bench directed the tahsildar, PWD officials and Rishivandiyam Panchayat Union officials to inspect the waterbody with the help of the jurisdictional surveyor and take appropriate action if they find the channel being encroached. Also, noting that a perusal of the photographs would also prima facie disclose that there were weeds growing, the bench directed the authorities to remove them so that the waterway or land was free of any obstruction to ensure that the water would reach the lake. Putting the officials on notice, the bench posted the matter to January 4 for filing of status report by the district authorities. The petitioner had submitted that the representation in this regard was submitted to the government a year and half ago but there was no response.