Jammu, Mar 8 : In a strong message against graft, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said corruption is not merely a loss of public money but an “opportunity stolen from the youth” and a “direct assault” on the lives of citizens, as he called for speedy investigations to ensure a corruption-free Union Territory.
Inaugurating the new Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) headquarters at Sidhra in Jammu and the ACB APKS Branch at Awantipora, the Lt Governor asserted that these buildings are not just structures of steel and concrete but stand as a “bold declaration of transparency” in public life.
“Today, J&K stands at a pivotal juncture. Over the past 5-6 years, we have ushered in transformative changes, rendering the system transparent and dedicating it to public service,” Sinha said, adding that the entire machinery now operates not for a select few, but for every individual across the UT.
Accompanied by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Director ACB Shakti Kumar Pathak, the Lt Governor emphasised that the administration, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has established a faceless mechanism to eradicate corruption from government processes.
Calling upon the ACB to ensure that every investigation and prosecution stands firm under judicial scrutiny, Sinha stressed the need for “maximum collaboration” among agencies. “In today’s interconnected world, corruption knows no borders, and data scatters across various networks.
Information held by one agency might form the crucial final piece in another’s probe,” he noted.
The Lt Governor also pushed for time-bound investigations, observing that delayed justice actively undermines outcomes in corruption cases. “We must cultivate a work culture that eliminates all delays in delivering justice,” he said, while urging officers to conduct daily self-audits to strengthen their credibility.
Highlighting the human cost of graft, Sinha remarked, “We must recognize that corruption is no abstract offense committed solely against the public exchequer but a direct assault on the lives of living human beings. It is the opportunity stolen from youth, the security snatched from a family.”
He added that the ill effects of corruption scar multiple generations, making it imperative for all stakeholders to work together to build a corruption-free J&K.
The newly established APKS Branch at Awantipora will cater to the ACB Police Station Anantnag, covering all districts of South Kashmir. Officials said the facility aims to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate timely handling of complaints in the region.
Senior officials, including ADGP Headquarters M.K. Sinha, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, and Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, were present on the occasion.
