Imphal, July 21 2009: The Manipur Legislative Assembly today witnessed a heated debate on the annual administrative report of the State Vigilance Commission which was tabled in March session as senior opposition member O Joy of MPP moved the House for a debate as public interest matter.

Initiating the debate, O Joy recalled that the state vigilance commission was constituted on May 18, 1981 following a resolution of the House.

The House has resolved to constitute the commission following a scandal in the state health and family welfare department involving Rs 1.71 crore and other scandals like missing of funds released for improvement of road communication in the hill areas under tribal development department and misappropriation of funds in the state electricity department.

The commission was handed over the task of looking after misappropriation of funds by the employees of the departments under the state government.

As matter of detection of many scandals, even ministers were taken out from the post.

As per the provision of the commission to table its annual reports to the House of the state Assembly, the same has been tabling in the house every year with the findings of the investigation conducted by the commission with the recommendation to the government for action taken.

But, government so far failed to provide action taken reports as well reasons of not taking up action so far, O Joy observed.

With regard to the case taken up by the vigilance commission, Joy said, the commission has taken up more than 200 cases related with misappropriation of funds since its inception 1999 to 2008 against government employees.

It also recommended major penalty to 22 cases and minor penalty to six cases.

But, state government so far taken up no action to government officers involved in the cases despite the recommendations.

The recommendations were not made by the opposition parties but the government's own agency.

Government not abiding its own recommendation has showed the weakness and improper functioning of the government.

If this condition continue, there is no need for having vigilance commission and asked why government is keeping the commission like paper tiger, Joy asked.

In reply to debate, chief minister, O Ibobi said that there is no question of not converting recommendation made by the commission giving an instant of placing the project director of Manipur AIDS Control Society under suspension following the recommendation.

He further said that the scandal of recruiting 178 personnel in the home guard from the back door was detected by the commission and in the follow up action, government has placed the SP of homeguard under suspension and investigation is in progress on the matter.

Government is trying for more effective functioning of the vigilance commission and trying to speed up the pending cases with the commission.

Action will be taken up to every recommendation made by the commission, the chief minister assured.

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