With Advancement In Technology, Ways Of Corruption Have Also Advanced: Allahabad HC [Read Order]

The Allahabad High Court, on Thursday, lamented the rampant increase in corruption, opining that it has become difficult to find honest people these days.

The Bench comprising Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice Ajit Kumar observed, "Today, finding an honest person is a rarity. Dishonesty and corruption are routine affair. Honesty has become a scarcity and virtually an endangered species. We need immediate step to evolve a scheme (as is being practiced in respect of rare animals) to protect honest and impartial men of integrity. True that number of such persons is decreasing, still we believe that society has ample honest people. Need is only to identify and encourage them so that their number may get increased.

For this purpose, what is needed more is a simultaneous deterrent action against corrupt and dishonest people by finding them out and punish sternly. Failure of system in meeting menace of corruption and dishonesty is encouraging these corrupt people, multiplying their cadre. It is causing reverse impact on honesty and integrity. We boast lot in favor of removal of corruption but do least. In fact, no serious attempt is vigilant so as to give even a ray of hope to ordinary citizens. The disease is spreading like anything and treatment requires a traumatic attempt."

The Court was hearing a Petition filed by one Mr. Narendra Kumar Tyagi, who had challenged allotment of a 200 square metre plot at Defence Enclave Yojna in Kankadkheda, Meerut. Mr. Tyagi had alleged that the auction process for the land was an eyewash as his bid was rejected even though he was the sole bidder and that another person's name was fraudulently added to bidder's list later.

The Court allowed the Petition and noted that corruption is prevalent in various public offices, observing, "We are really surprised that in the matter of public dealing where process of allotment of land needs impartial, objective and transparent procedure, MDA and its officials are indulged in otherwise corrupt activities, and going to the extent of manipulating record in favor of selective individuals, obviously for reasons other than bona-fide. It cannot be termed with any other expression except patent and evident illustration of corruption. Off late, corruption has taken several shades. It is not as simple as it was in earlier days when a simple giving and taking or doing something illegal or favoritism, etc. was the only mode.

Now corruption takes place in variety of ways. It had discovered myriad of ways. Sometimes apparent corruption may not be visible since it has its consequences in various phases, means and stages. As we have advanced in technology, ways of corruption have also advanced. Many a times one may find a transaction to be simple and ordinary but in effect it is full of corruption. People involved in corruption are now part of everyday life and it has engulfed society in a very big way."

Thereafter, quashing the auction proceedings, the Court noted, "...entire process adopted by respondents in the present case is nothing but a farce and full of manipulations, fraud, misrepresentation. Various officials have gone to the extent of making false averments before this Court knowing it well that they are not in a position to explain apparent contradictions in record."

It then directed Meerut Development Authority (MDA) to pay Rs. 50,000 as costs to the Petitioner. This amount, it said, can be recovered from the concerned officials.