Andhra Pradesh finance minister says special courts will expedite graft cases

HYDERABAD: Introducing the AP Special Courts Bill on behalf of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu said the TD was fulfilling its election promise of attaching the properties of corrupt elements and using the money for public purpose.

Mr Ramakrishundu said the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 were not stringent and did not prevent corruption by public servants. He said a large number of such persons had accumulated disproportionate assets. He said the PC Act provided for attachment of assets only after the conviction of a public servant for graft; this was not enough to check corruption.

He said even under the Criminal Law Ordinance, 1944, assets can be confiscated only after a person is convicted for corruption.

Mr Ramakrishnudu said under the existing system, regular courts may not be in a position to try offences and complete the prosecution speedily.

After taking the these aspects into consideration, the state government had decided to establish special courts to be presided over by sessions judges or additional sessions judges to avoid delays while not interfering with the right to a fair trial, he said.

He said the government was not enacting this legislation keeping in mind any individual. He said the Enforcement Department had been attaching properties which belong to the State. Quoting examples, Mr Ramakrishnudu said in 11 cases the ED had attached Rs 43,000 crore properties, apart from red sanders worth Rs 1,000 crore. The Assembly passed eight other Bills.