Srinagar, Nov 4: Academics and officers of Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB) on Friday stressed on the need to fight corruption collectively to build a better society during a vigilance awareness programme at Kashmir University.
The programme was held at the varsity as part of the countrywide observance of the vigilance awareness week.
The programme was jointly organised by the varsity’s office of National Service Scheme(NSS) and Departmental Vigilance Office in collaboration with Anti Corruption Bureau(ACB), a statement by KU said.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan chaired the inaugural session as chief guest, while AIG, Anti-Corruption Bureau Headquarters, Abdul Waheed Shah was a guest of honour and SSP ACB, Srinagar Zahoor Ahmad was a special guest.
In her presidential address, Prof Nilofer said corruption is a major obstacle to the economic and social progress of the country and there is a need to work together to eradicate this menace.
She said the University of Kashmir, being a premier institution of higher learning in the country, is fully conscious of its responsibility to function in the most transparent manner in strict adherence to the transparency norms.
In his special address, ACB’s Abdul Waheed Shah highlighted the genesis of observing the vigilance awareness week every year from October 31 to November 6.
“With this programme, we want to send out the message that we all need to collectively fight corruption in all its forms and manifestations, whether it’s collusive, coercive or systematic corruption if we have to see our nation progress and develop,” Waheed said, asserting that while ACB is on the forefront of fight against corruption, “the society on the whole has to come forward to eliminate this scourge.”
“Corruption is both a crime and a sin,” Waheed further said, exhorting public servants to be fully conscious of their duties and responsibilities and follow the motto of transparency in letter and spirit.
Later, top ACB officers including SSP ACB (Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal) Zahoor Ahmad gave a detailed power-point presentation on anti-corruption legislations, forms and manifestations of corruption and agencies involved in dealing with corruption cases.
He said institutions like universities have a larger responsibility to pursue and spread the message of transparency and aid in weeding out corruption from the society.
Chief Prosecuting Officer ACB Ghulam Jeelani Dar also gave a detailed perspective on types of corruption cases as envisaged in different anti-corruption laws. He also highlighted the essence and meaning of ‘public servants’ and ‘public duty’, while discussing corruption forms like bribery, misappropriation and disproportionate assets etc.
