Jammu, March 8: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday called upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure that each decision, investigation and prosecution stands firm under scrutiny of the courts and must harness the authority granted by the nation's Constitution to expose injustice, eradicate corruption entirely, and earn the trust of the people.
“Jammu Kashmir no longer settles for mediocrity or the ordinary. It now dares to dream big. Among our people, a firm belief has taken root that a golden future lies ahead. Fulfilling this vision is also the responsibility of the officers and staff at the Anti-Corruption Bureau,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters Building at Sidhra, Jammu and ACB APKS Branch, Awantipora.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasised that the two buildings inaugurated today are not merely structures of steel, glass, and concrete; they stand as a bold declaration of transparency in public life and a corruption-free Union Territory.
“Today, J&K stands at a pivotal juncture. Over the past 5-6 years, we have ushered in transformative changes, rendering the system transparent and dedicating it to public service. Entire machinery now operates not for the benefit of a select few, but for every individual across the Union Territory. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have established a faceless mechanism to eradicate corruption from government processes, eliminate delays, and deliver all services directly to ordinary citizens,” he said.
Sinha highlighted that the speed of project execution has accelerated significantly over the past few years. “Revolutionary progress in industry, infrastructure, agriculture, self-employment, health, power, and rural development across nearly every sector stemmed from a transparent and accountable governance model”.
He asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau officers to conduct a daily self-audit of their work to strengthen the hard-earned credibility.
“Your efforts should thrive on maximum collaboration. In today's interconnected world, corruption knows no borders, and data scatters across various networks. Information held by one agency might form the crucial final piece in another's probe, so genuine and timely cooperation is essential wherever needed,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He also called for speedy investigation, observing that delayed justice does not merely deny society its due but it actively undermines outcomes in corruption cases.
He stressed on cultivating a work culture that eliminates all delays in delivering justice.
The Lieutenant Governor said that corruption is not merely a loss of public money but it is the opportunity stolen from youth, it is the security snatched from a family, it is the injustice inflicted on an elderly member of society.
“We must recognize that corruption is no abstract offense committed solely against the public exchequer but a direct assault on the lives of living human beings. The ill effects of corruption extend far beyond economic damage; it scars the lives of multiple generations. We must work together to build corruption-free J&K,” Sinha said.
The newly established APKS Branch at Awantipora will cater to the ACB Police Station Anantnag, which has jurisdiction over all districts of South Kashmir. The facility is expected to enhance operational efficiency, improve accessibility, and facilitate timely handling of complaints and investigations in the region.
Shakti Kumar Pathak, Director, Anti Corruption Bureau, briefed about the functioning of the Bureau and the salient features of the newly constructed buildings. He highlighted that the enhanced infrastructure will provide a conducive working environment and strengthen field-level vigilance operations.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; M.K. Sinha, ADGP Headquarters; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; M Raju, Commissioner Secretary, General Administrative Department; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Deputy Commissioner Jammu and senior officials attended the inaugural ceremony.