Bribery Scandal Exposed: Settlement Office in Silchar Under Scrutiny for Unauthorised Transactions

Time and again Barak Bulletin has reported on the bribery scandals ongoing in several government establishments in the valley. The recent chain of events in the Katigorah Circle Office and Silchar Settlement Office for the Cachar and Hailakandi districts were also reported. A letter addressed to the Assitant Settlement Officer (ASO) of Silchar Sadar Circle from the Settlement Officer (SO) of Cacahar and Hailakandi came to notice, which in simple words proves the ongoing bribery syndicate in the Settlement Office. The officer in the letter criticised the unauthorized transactions in strong words and asked for their withdrawal of middleman (dalals) from the office. On July 18, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption trapped red-handed Nurul Hoque Barbhuiya, Patwari, Sadar Circle, Cachar, Silchar after he accepted a bribe in the office in connection with the payment of compensation against land acquired for the construction of a road.

The Officer in his letter mentioned that the SO has taken notice of the “ unauthorized persons” regularly attending the Settlement Office situated at PWD Road and are occupying the allotted chair of the appointed staff. The SO also noticed the Land Records staff utilising the service of the unauthorised persons as their helping hands. This “help” doesn’t come free of cost and these unauthorised persons assume them to be even higher than the officers and charge bribes in the name of the government officials of that office. There is no proof to comment on the government official’s cut in those transactions, but what is clear from the letter is that such transactions have harmed the office like an epidemic, causing widespread problems to the general public who visit this office for land and property-related works.

Assam has a Chief Minister’s Special Vigilance Cell (CM’s SVC), Assam is headed by a Superintendent of Police. Along with that, the sleuths of the Directorate of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption are actively working in the state and hunting down any corrupt officials, catching them red-handed while accepting any bribes. With such high firewalls in place to stop corruption, how does an office located in the district headquarters of Cachar along Silcahr being the divisional office for the Barak Valley division accommodate “unauthorised persons”?

The letter addressed to the ASO dated July 29, read, “It has also come to my knowledge that such illegal practice is continuing with intervals in spite of repeated instruction issued from time to time. Even though in many instances it is stopped, but few many are still doing the same that has devalued office discipline dignity. For keeping a healthy atmosphere in this office, it is immediately necessary to control this damage with firm hands and they may be cautioned to refrain from such illegal activities”.

To control the damage, the officer has instructed the ASO to call a general staff meeting with staff immediately to “ensure cooperation from them and to establish a good administrative atmosphere” in the office. From this letter, it is clear that actions now will be directed from the top of the hierarchy that is the SO. It needs to be seen whether this will bring any impact remains as another bureaucratese.