THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suspended IAS officer T.O. Sooraj can surely relax and easily make a comeback as many officers who face serious charges still hold key posts, thanks to the loopholes in prosecution procedures and the political clout many of them wield.
Nearly a dozen top officials in the State are up against vigilance probes, of which only Sooraj and IPS officer Rahul R.Nair are under suspension at present. Though some officers were earlier placed under suspension, they managed to revoke it and hold key posts now.
Prominent among them is IPS officer Tomin J.Thachankary. Despite facing a couple of vigilance cases and even being chargesheeted, he still holds the post of managing Director of Kerala State Marketing Federation.
Former MD of Consumerfed, Riji G.Nair, who faced a vigilance probe, was even posted as Director of Cooperative Academy of Professional Education.
But as the controversy snowballed he had to quit. IPS officer R.Sreejith, who faced a probe, is now serving as Chief Investigation Officer in the State Human Rights Commission.
Even after KPCC president V.M.Sudheeran recently told the Government that officials who faced corruption charges ought to be kept out of office till they were cleared of the charges, there has been no change in the state of affairs.
Others facing vigilance probes are Excise Commissioner Anil Xavier, Port Director P.I.Sheik Pareeth, Sports Authority of India Director General Jiji Thomson, Rubber Board Chairman Sheela Thomas and Anand Singh who is on Central deputation.
While many officers try to misuse the legal loopholes to deliberately delay prosecution, the inordinate delay often affects their career prospects.
The inordinate procedural delay in the palmoil import case resulted in P.J.Thomas's ouster from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner and another accused in the case, Jiji Thomson, had to plead to the Government for exempting him from the case.
“It is very easy to delay a case as there are many options available. Staying prosecution procedures by citing technical reasons in the much sought after one. It’s high time a time limit is prescribed for stays,” said a senior Vigilance officer.
