Chennai: The number of convictions against corrupt officials in Tamil Nadu has drastically reduced in the past three years, compared to early 2000. For the period from 2008 to 2011, the directorate of vigilance and anti corruption booked over 600 cases resulting in one-third conviction. Now, the number of cases booked has dipped by almost 40 per cent.
For the period 2012-2013, the number of cases, including traps, had gone down to 461 and 381 respectively, admit official sources. The conviction rate was better in 2001 and 2003 where every year at least 50 officers were convicted. Conviction hit an all-time low for the years 2009 and 2010 with just 28 and 22 conviction of corrupt officials.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from DVAC proved futile, as the top brass were unavailable. Activists and legal luminaries demand more traps and convictions at least from now on, so that the incidence of corruption will reduce. The number of cases and convictions could have reduced but corruption is ever-increasing, observes former Madras high court judge, Justice K. Chandru. Corruption has gone to the next level and scientific corruption is visible, he said.
