Cases booked during 2014 general elections for bribing the voters  (Dated 5^th December 2017)

About Ten thousand cases were booked for different offences and Rs. 150 crores were seized during general elections in 2014 by the police. Forum for Good Governance collected all information from S.P’s of the districts and analyzed them. We feel money is playing a big role in elections. The contesting candidates are distributing large sums of money (bribing the voters). In our analysis we found about 543 cases pertaining to distribution of money to voters are booked by police department but subsequently not much progress is achieved to bring the cases to their logical conclusion.

As per sec. 171 – B of I.P.C. distributing money to voters is Bribery and as per sec. 171 – E the person shall be punished with imprisonment for term of one year or with fine or both.  Normally it so happens that in very few cases direct involvement of candidate can be established.  Most of the time, party workers and agents distribute the money. Police registers case against a person who is distributing the money but enquiry to establish link with contesting candidate is not done.

We requested the DGP Telangana to expedite the cases booked for Bribery (171-B) and bring them to

their logical conclusion, so that the role of money is reduced in elections.

Sc order on politicians brews trouble for cops in DC  (Dated 3rd November 2017)

Misappropriation of pension amount by staff of Asifnagar Thasil (Dated 2^nd November 2017)

Government of Telangana as a part of its social safety net strategy has introduced the Aasara pensions with a view to ensures secure life with dignity for all the poor.  This scheme is meant to protect the most vulnerable sections of society.  The government further ordered that 100% social audit shall be done of the pensions disbursed.

In the year 2014 few staff members of Asifnagar Thasil hatched a criminal conspiracy and misappropriated the funds meant for Aasara.

On March 2^nd 2016 there was an adverse press reports stating that “Pinchan Sommu PanchukuTinnaru”.   The very next day Collector Hyderabad directed the R.D.O. Hyderabad to conduct detailed enquiry and submit the report within 7 days for further action.

The following issues need examination

1. Why the staff from District collector and social welfare department went to Asifnagar Thasil for disbursement of pension.
2. When there are clear instructions from government for 100% audit why no audit was done leading to misappropriation.
3. As per C.E.O. SERP , if the misappropriation is more than 1 lakh the responsible staff to be suspending and criminal prosecution launched. But no such action has been initiated in this case.

Explaining all the facts we have submitted a representation to Chief Secretary to Government of Telangana with a request to order for enquiry by ACB or V&E, but the Chief Secretary sent it to Commissioner of Land Administration for enquiry. The C.C.L.A inturn requested the Collector Hyderabad in February 2017 for enquiry. So far no concrete action has been taken.

To sum up, Forum for Good Governance has a reason to believe that in this case, inspite of clear and exhaustive enquiry report from R.D.O. the matter is kept in cold storage in the collector office.  Since staff’s of collector’s office and Social Welfare Department in addition to staff of Thasil office are involved, under some pretext or other the action is not initiated against the persons involved.  There are reports of such misappropriation of Aasara funds from Warangal and other areas.   If no prompt action is taken it will encourage misappropriation in other welfare schemes also.

We therefore requested the Vigilance Commission to take up for enquiry into the matter and action initiated against guilty so that recurrence of such mal practice is prevented.

Harassment of builders by Corporators of GHMC for Mamools  (Dated 6^th November 2017)

The media has published detailed report about the corrupt practices of Corporators.  One of the press person participated in the meeting of Corporators and stealthy took photos and recorded the proceeding MLA of L.B. Nagar has expressed similar views.

Based on these two press reports vividly describing the issue and supported by Photographs and Voice recording, Prl. Secretary, MA&UD should have ordered for enquiry by   V&E or by any other appropriate agency, as no action was initiated.

Forum for Good Governance submitted a representation (wakeup call) with a request to order for an enquiry. Our representation was not brought to the notice of the Prl. Secretary M.A&U.D and the office routinely transferred it to Commissioner, GHMC asking us to make further correspondence with GHMC. Here it is pointed out that the subject matter is harassment of Corporators for bribes this point was side tracked conveniently and the efforts being made by GHMC to control unauthorized constructions is mentioned.

F.G.G requested the Chief Secretary to order for an enquiry by an appropriate agency so that people will know the facts.

Regularization of illegal constructions orders passed by Hon’able High Court  (Dated 10^th November 2017)

The problems of illegal and unauthorized constructions and layouts coming up in and around Hyderabad city, two G.O.s No. 146 and 152 issued by government of Telangana to regularize the illegal constructions and layouts will put a strain on the infrastructure and support services and effects the quality of life of residents.

Forum for Good Governance collected all information through R.T.I Act and analyzed. FGG filled a PIL in Hon’able High Court. The Hon’able High Court of AP & TS passed the orders in the PIL No. 63 of 2016. The court in its order stated that “The applications for regularization be processed in accordance with the regularization scheme notified in G.O. M.S No. 152 dated 2-11-2015. In case the GHMC or the other Municipal Corporations in the state of Telangana, after considering the application for regularizations, decided to reject the request for regularization, it is open to them to communicate the orders of demolition of illegal structures in accordance with law. In such of those cases where the GHMC or the other Municipal Corporations, tentatively decided to regularize the illegal structures, such decisions shall merely be recorded in the file, and shall neither be given effect to nor shall it be communicated to the applicants, pending further orders from this court.

The court order has three important points

1. To take decision to regularize or reject the applications, in case of rejected applications the order to be communicated to the applicants
2. To take action for demolition of unauthorized structures in accordance with law.
3. In cases where a tentative decision has been taken to regularize the illegal structures such decision shall merely be recorded in the file and shall not be given effect pending further orders from the court.

Forum for Good Governance requested the Commissioner GHMC to decide the structures to be regularized, record it in concerned files and approach the Hon’able High Court for further orders.

Virtues of Toddy for Chemical Analysis  (Dated 23^rd November 2017)

Hon’ble minister for excise has stated in the assembly on 16^th of November, 2017 that Kallu is medicine it helps in removing stones from kidneys and curing jaundice. This is a very interesting regulation stated by Hon’ble minister. Normally the ministers give statements in the assembly based on the information provided by the department/commissionarate.

Forum for Good Governance requested the commissioner Prohibition & Excise department to get the chemical analysis of Eeatha and Thati Kallu so that people will get their douts cleared. We would also bring it to the kind notice of commissioner that Neera is different from Kallu. When Neera is fermented by exposing to sun it will turn into Kallu which is harmful.

We feel the Hon’ble minister when he mentions that Kallu has medicinal values he might be presuming it to be Neera. Extraction of Neera is an elaborate process and few selected tree only give Neera and it is to be consumed before 8 or 9 am. 99% of population drinks Kallu only, as such we feel whatever little good qualities of Neera are being attributed to Kallu.

Finally we requested the commissioner to arrange for study of the issue in its totality and issue clarification in the matter.

Appointment of required number of Information Commissioners   (Dated 3^rd October 2017)

There are about 9,000 cases pending in the Commission and it may take about 2 years of r one Chief Information Commissioner and Information commissioner to clear the backlog. Any appeal now coming up before the Commission will be heard after two years only. Sec. 15 (2, b) of R.T.I Act says that state government can appoint “ such number of Information Commissioners not acceding ten as may be deemed necessary”.

Since there is heavy pendency of cases, it is therefore necessary of more number of Commissioners to clear off pendency and to take fresh case. Time is the essence in R.T.I Act. Any appeal preferred with Commission should be disposed off in two to three months; otherwise people lose confidence on the effectiveness of the Commission.
Forum for Good Governance requested the H.E the Governor of T.S & A.P and Chief Secretary to Government to take action to appoint atleast another 5 Commissioners (or as deemed fit) for effective implementation of the R.T.I Act in the State of Telangana.

Corruption in Administration  ( Dated 21^st September 2017)

Rampant corruption in administration is the order of the day. The cases registered by ACB are let off in Secretariat with the result an impression is created that; even the trap case can be closed or diluted and let off with minor punishment. The ACB after registering the case conducts detailed enquiry giving ample opportunity to accused officer and after months of painstaking exercise sends its report to government for permission to prosecute. Only few officials who cannot manipulate in secretariat are prosecuted and many accused officials manage to avoid prosecution.

Forum for Good Governance is of the opinion that whenever ACB requests for permission to prosecute and the Vigilance Commission concurs with ACB report, permission for prosecution should be given within a month. According permission to prosecute a tainted official is not punishing him or it is a final word in the case, it is only putting the tainted official to undergo due process of law.

We requested the Chief Secretary to order for

1. Enquiry as to why ACB request was negated in large number of cases during last two years.
2. To review the procedure followed at present in dealing with ACB cases and take steps for expeditious disposal of ACB cases.
3. In the past we have submitted number of representation citing examples of how various departments in secretariat are acting like God fathers to tainted officials and protecting them.

List of cases booked by ACB during last two years 

Enable the State Election Commission to conduct elections to Ward Committees and Area Sabhass  (Dated: Sept 12^th, 2017)

As per Sec. 10 of GHMC Act “All elections to Municipal Corporations shall be held under the supervision and control of the State Election Commission”. The posts to be filled up in GHMC are Mayor, Dy. Mayor, Corporator, Ward Committee Member and Area Sabha Representative. At present State Election Commission is confining itself to conducting elections to Corporator, Deputy Mayor and Mayor. The posts of Ward Committees and Area sabhas which are more important from the point of view of common man are left out of purview of State Election Commission.

Right from 2009 we have unsatisfactory results of nominating Ward Committee members and Area Sabha representatives by the Corporation, the Corporators and MLAs are nominating their people mostly party workers and their spouses, kith and kin. Though the Act says, “Ward Committee members and Area Sabha representatives should be from civil societies”.

The Commissioner GHMC who is supposed to invite applications scrutinizes and put up the list of eligible candidates for nomination to Ward Committee and Area Sabha is unable to do justice because of pressure and manipulation of Corporators and MLAs. Nomination of Ward Committee members and Area Sabha representatives by the corporation is not working as such elections to be conducted by State Election Commission as is being done to Ward members and presidents of G.P. in Panchayat Raj Department.

Keeping all these in view Forum for Good Governance requests the Chief Secretary to Government to take steps to amend the GHMC Act and Municipalities Act of Telangana State to enable the State Election commission to conduct elections to Ward Committees and Area Sabhas instead of nomination by Corporation.

Tainted Officials for Prosecution (Published in DC Paper)

Dated: Sept 5th, 2017