CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation, with annual transactions of nearly ₹4,000 crore in revenue and capital expenditure, has a vigilance wing that does little to justify its existence.
Headed by an assistant commissioner of police-rank officer and aided by two inspectors and a handful of staffers, it is supposed to ‘inquire’ into complaints, but does not have the power to act suo motu. It merely probes ‘forwarded’ complaints and ‘submits’ reports to the mayor and the commissioner.
It is not a police station within the meaning of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and hence does not have power to register first information reports (FIRs). In fact, a body overseeing about 2,000 employees serving almost one crore people spread across nearly 476sqkm doesn’t even get any of the tender documents and does not look into any issues related to implementation of projects.
Since January, TOI contacted corporation vigilance officer R Gunavharman multiple times to seek information on the number of complaints registered, action taken and reports submitted. He didn’t respond. Several activists, asked if they had complained to the vigilance cell and if they got responses, said they did not even know such a cell existed.
“We only know that there is a directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption office and even on the corporation website, this is the office mentioned to complain on corruption issues,” said activist M Chilambarasan.
Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, said that unless the cell is empowered to function independently and made accountable by being mandated to make all reports public, it will be of no use. “Whenever we have sent petitions, we have been called for inquiry, but there was no action taken and the report was also not shared with us. Once a report is completed, it is a public document,” he said.
P Saravanakumar, founder of Madipakkambased MSS Trust, said members of the cell were corrupt. “In 2020, the Madras high court ordered the DGP to transfer all vigilance cell officials in GCC and appoint honest officers. They have all the powers, but they are not doing anything that is beneficial to society. ”
In 2020, after rampant corruption was reported, the civic body promised to set up three cells with a staff strength of more than 50. Nothing has been done since then.
Some senior corporation officials said they weren’t aware of the exact numbers, but said that ‘action’ had been taken against many officials found not doing their duty.
