CPI (M) senior leader and MLA M Y Tarigami Saturday appreciated the concern of the State Accountability Commission Chairman, regarding the strengthening of this important institution, the creation of which was aimed to make all sections of the establishment responsive and answerable to the public.In a letter to Justice (Retd.) B.A.Khan, Tarigami concurred with the chairman, that the original act of 2002, which created the commission, was weakened and rendered more or less ineffective by the unwanted amendments in 2011.He referred to his private member's bill titled: J&K Accountability Commission (Amendment) Bill 2012 and affirmed that he had sought extensive changes in the act.
He said the proposed amendments included the one, which demanded bringing all the public and government servants right from the chief minister to middle rung officers under the purview of the commission.The bill also demanded that the commission be provided a full-fledged and independent investigating agency of its own so that it could conduct investigations and inquiries without any hitch or hindrance.One of the aims of the bill was to do away with the confusion and diarchy created by the lack of clarity between the scope, jurisdiction and powers of the Accountability Commission and the Vigilance Commission.Unfortunately the bill was not debated in the state assembly as the govt. generally avoids the bills of private members.He however asserted that he and his party would support any move which aims to amend the Accountability Commission Act for making it strong, fully autonomous and effective. (KNS)