Combating corruption among government servants in Assam

The Assam Government has time and again laid stress on zero-tolerance against corruption and has been taking measures to curb corruption among government officials. An effective tool that can help the government in fighting the malaise of corruption is the Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965. If these rules are properly implemented, it will become easy to monitor the assets and liabilities of government officials.

However, these rules are implemented only in the case of Assam Civil Services (ACS) officers and Class I officers, and not on a blanket basis for all sections of government officers. ACS officers and high-ranking officers submit the annual returns of their assets and liabilities and the Personnel Department monitors this. But other officers, even low-ranking police officers, do not submit their annual returns. The government too has not made it mandatory for all officers to submit their annual returns. Does this mean that only ACS officers are involved in corruption? Certainly not.

According to the Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965, every government servant, after joining service, must submit returns of assets and liabilities annually. He must list all his movable assets and mention their value. The Rules also state that no government servant shall accept or permit any member of his family or any person acting on his behalf to accept any gift. The expression ‘gift’ shall include free transport, boarding, lodging and other services. On occasions such as weddings, anniversaries and other social or religious events, a government servant may accept gifts, but only worth up to a certain amount. If the value of any gift exceeds the mentioned amount, he must report to the government.

But are these Rules taken seriously? The answer is pretty obvious. Even the government, despite its intent to root out corruption, has not enforced these Rules strictly and across all categories of government officers. This explains how officers like Saibar Rahman and Rounak Ali Hazarika could amass wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. Had the Rules been properly implemented, the government could have monitored their assets and liabilities regularly. There are many officers like Saibar Rahman and Rounak Ali Hazarika who have acquired assets disproportionate to their income.

Official sources said that many engineers in departments like Water Resources, Irrigation etc. and police officers of OC rank have amassed huge wealth and they do not submit the annual returns of their assets and liabilities. The Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965, a government servant can buy property worth up to a certain value. Moreover, before acquiring the property, he must mention his source of income. “But who does this? Even a Grade IV government employee owns 1-2 vehicles,” said sources.

So if the government is serious about weeding out corruption, it will need to take steps that match its good intent, like making the Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965 mandatory for all categories of government servants.