Bribery still flourishing in government offices

The news that the Vigilance raid at Sub Registrar offices found undocumented money of Rs.1.25 lakhs has not surprised anybody. This is because everyone knows the how the system works. For any services at the sub registrar offices including registering title deeds, bribes must be offered over and above the fees for the services. This is an old tradition.

The Vigilance conducted raids in 54 sub registrar offices under operation Panchikiran 2. Only few people accept bribes directly fearing vigilance. Therefore, they get their share through middlemen after office hours. The Vigilance officers were aware of this and so they came for raid towards the end of the office timing.

In the raid conducted at Mavelikara sub registrar office, Rs.42,250 was recovered from title deed writers. This amount might have been brought there as payment to the employees. At Manjeshwaram, Rs.18,000 was confiscated from two title deed writers. The Vigilance also found that the money deposited in the account of employees is bribe.

Though tough stance has been taken against bribe and corruption, some offices are steeped in bribery. The people get a glimpse of the depth of this corruption only when Vigilance undertakes raids such as this. However, those who come to these offices are aware of this.

Government services are said to be the right of a citizen. Giving and taking bribes is a crime. Still people have to give bribes to get something done in such offices. In sub registrar offices no one will demand bribes directly. However, after all proceedings are over the piece of paper given by title deed writers will be noted the amount given to officers. These amounts reach the designated places in utmost secrecy and without being detected. With increasing communication technology, money is being transferred using such methods also.

Sub registrar offices won’t be corruption free through once-in-a-while Vigilance raid. If the land registration is made simple, some changes can be seen. The rules state that the true value of the land must be shown in the title deed. For that stamp paper and fees must be given. However, the true value of land changes to high value in most cases. That is where the opportunity for bribes begins. When the government charges and taxes become burdensome, people resort to bribery.

This can be seen in offices that have made bribery a norm. If services in the offices like sub registrar offices are reformed with time, then bribery can be controlled to an extent. Many services have been made online now. The move to make land registration online has been put on hold because of the opposition of the document writers.

A government that wishes to do things correctly then it must see to it that the people’s wishes are given utmost priority. If we look at how many people are punished in connection with Vigilance raids we will understand the reality. Vigilance raids should not be to fool the people.