Thiruvananthapuram: The Jail Director General Rishi Raj Singh has issued an order that grocery and food items for consumption in jails can only be purchased from government agencies or quasi government agencies.
The order came based on reports that in spite of all items being available with government agencies, food items were being purchased from private parties leading to corruption and nepotism. The Accounts General audit has also opposed the purchase of goods from private parties in some of its observations.
“The findings by a section of officials were that it cost lesser to purchase goods from private parties. However, it tends to get forgotten that the money returns to public coffers whenever purchased from government firms,” Mr Rishi Raj Singh.
He pointed out that the government in 2006 had issued the order saying that groceries and food items should be purchased from government firms to ensure quality and stem irregularities.
Jail DIGs have been instructed to ensure implementation and the report has to be submitted in a week. If the order was not implemented, a vigilance inquiry would be recommended and DIGs would be personally held accountable for violations, Mr Singh said.
