Kochi: Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has submitted before Kerala High Court that it has no authority to direct the government to review the administrative decisions and its actions. The VACB was formed only for the investigation of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It also pointed out that the alleged promotion of N. Shankar Reddy as director general of police (DGP), Vigilance, during the previous UDF government was purely an administrative matter and there was no misconduct in it. The court had earlier asked the VACB to explain what was its authority of to direct the government to review the administrative decisions and actions taken by the government.
The affidavit was filed on a petition of Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala seeking to quash the order of the Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court to conduct a probe against him on the appointment of Mr Reddy. According to VACB, it is well within its functions to recommend and bring to the notice of the government about the irregularity, gross negligence or misconduct on the part of public servants. The promotion of Mr Reddy is purely an administrative matter. Hence, it is not proper to proceed in the case under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, the HC adjourned the hearing of the nepotism case allegedly involving former minister E.P. Jayarajan to June 6. The VACB informed the court that the accused persons had not obtained any financial gain in this case.
