Jammu, Feb 15: The state government’s proposal to bring amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act-2006 and giving more teeth to the anti-corruption bodies seems to have landed in cold storage as the high-level committee constituted for the purpose hasn’t met for the past one month. The panel, which was asked to suggest changes in the existing laws, has missed the one-month deadline as it has not held even a single meeting since its formation on January 15.
 Highly placed sources said that in the wake of the panel’s failure to meet and discuss the issue, the proposed amendments may be delayed. “The committee was constituted on the directions of State High Court given in a case titled Mohammad Amin Beigh versus State and others on July 9, 2012,” sources said.
 Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar had directed the State Government to take steps for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act.
 Acting on the directions, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had on January 15 constituted the committee headed by Chief Secretary with administrative Secretaries of Law, General Administration and Home departments and Commissioner Vigilance Organization as its members.
 The High Court in its last order directed that the committee shall complete the process within a period of one month from the date of its constitution, sources added.
 Going by the present status, sources told Greater Kashmir that the committee was likely to take one more month for suggesting amendments in the Act while the government was focusing to control present situation in Kashmir valley. They also said that the government was likely to  approach the High Court to seek more time.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST