Controversial: Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau order not to disclose accused's identity draw flak

Udaipur— The common man would not get to know about the corrupt officials trapped and arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths now on. On the pretext of guarding their human rights, the ACB has asked its officials not to reveal names and photos of bribery case accused and suspects until they are convicted by court.

The order caught flaks immediately as it spread all over the social media and the opposition started grilling the Gehlot government.

The Additional DG-ACB Hemant Priyadarshy, issued the order on Wednesday, shortly after he assumed the additional charge of ACB chief, directing all the chowky incharges not to disclose with the media, the names and pictures of the accused and suspects who have been caught by the sleuths unless they are convicted by the court. Only their post and department identity would be revealed to the media, is the new stand.

Though the ACB claims legal backup behind the order with a Supreme Court guideline intending to protect human rights, however, the Opposition BJP targeted the state government over the order and questioned its intention.

BJP state president Satish Poonia tweeted a copy of the order and said the Congress is with the “corrupt and the corrupt is with the Congress”.

Meanwhile the Deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore termed it as a 'Tughlaqi farman' and said that Ashok Gehlot's model state Rajasthan is violating the rights of the press by shielding the corrupt officials and not disclosing their names now on.

He also said that the 'Zero Discretion, Zero Corruption & Zero Tolerance' mentioned in the policy document manifesto has gone awry and ACB would now work to shield the corrupt ones.

However, congress snap back reminding the saffron party supporters of the black bill proposed by the Vasundhara led BJP government five years ago deeming it mandatory to seek permission of the state government before revealing the identities of the accused and suspect officials trapped by the ACB. The bill was withdrawn after facing much criticism and opposition at large.

Meanwhile legal experts say there is no provision to keep the identities of the trapped officials undisclosed. "Such kind of privilege granted to officials trapped for bribery or misconduct would only promote corruption and thus beat the very purpose of the department's objective" says Pradeep Shah, a Criminal Advocate practising at Principal seat of Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, for more than 32 years.

Journalists and human right defenders also raised their voice against the ACB diktat. "The ACB is worried about the human rights of the accused but who will take care of the rights of the complainants who dare to act against the corrupt officials? This will surely boost the morale of the wrongdoers who will have no fear of societal pressure now", Upendra Singh Rathore, state president of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists opined.

Meanwhile, cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariya was told the media that Rajasthan is at the top position in prevention of corruption. " We are aiming at increased public participation and maintaining transparency to nail corruption. This order would be discussed with the chief minister" he told media.

Rajasthan Nurses Association has severely condemned the ACB order and demanded a roll.back. "Instead of hiding the identities of the accused, rather their names and pictures should be pasted at all junctions and public offices" Presifent Pyarelal Chaudhary and acting president Narendra Singh Shekhawat of the Association wrote in a memorandum sent to the Chief Minister on Thursday.

Meanwhile, there are some who believe this move has a positive dimension too. "In the age of media trials and media over kills, innocent people get affected and dragged into false allegations due to varied reasons like professional rivalry. So may be the motive behind such order may not be to shield the culprits but to ascertain that only when one is proved guilty by the court, he or she is put to public speculation and judgements" says Dr. Sanjay Lodha, a retired professor from Mohanalal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.

However, her asserts that the entire procedure of ACB investigation should be expedited so that the wrong doers get punished and do not get away unscathed.