Madras High Court Summons Centre Over Delay in Sanction to Prosecute Two IAS Officers

The Madras High Court on Monday sharply criticised the Union government for delaying sanction to prosecute two IAS officers in connection with a municipal corporation tender scam involving former AIADMK minister S P Velumani. Hearing the matter in Chennai, Justice N Anand Venkatesh lamented that it has become nearly impossible to take action against people occupying high posts in corruption cases, even at the stage of filing a chargesheet.

The court made these observations while expressing dismay over the pending prosecution sanctions for IAS officers K S Kandhasamy and M K Vijaya Karthikeyan. Questioning the delay, the judge remarked that Indians have reached a stage where they do not get agitated over corruption, and pointed out the contradiction in the central government's anti-corruption stance.

Justice Venkatesh noted that while the Centre speaks publicly about fighting corruption, such delays demonstrate no real difference in practice. The judge specifically asked whether there is no time limit prescribed for dealing with official files relating to corruption cases.

Following the remarks, the High Court directed the concerned authority from the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions to appear before the court via video conferencing at 2:15 pm on September 19.

The proceedings arise from a contempt of court petition filed by the anti-corruption organisation Arappor Iyakkam against the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The organisation approached the court alleging that the agency failed to comply with previous court directions regarding the probe into tender irregularities within the Chennai and Coimbatore municipal corporations during the previous AIADMK regime.