Observing that corruption, which was once an exception to a civilised existence, has now "become a rule", the Madras High Court today rejected a petition by a police sub-inspector who was dismissed from service under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
"A stern view is to be taken, since the incidents of corruption are proliferating in alarming proportion in public employment and therefore, a deterrent punishment ought to be the order of the day to curb or curtail the abominable menace of corruption," Justice V Parthiban observed.
Turning down Palanimuthu's plea challenging the dismissal of mercy petition and the dismissal order of the DGP, the judge said, "Since this court is of the considered view that the proved corruption cannot be condoned under any circumstances and therefore dismissal order cannot even be remotely held to be disproportionate."
On the other hand, as found in the CCS CCA rules governing the service conditions of the central government servants, as a matter of imposing punishment for dishonesty, it can only be either removal or dismissal from service, the judge observed.
"While holding as such, the writ petition is hereby dismissed as being devoid of merits," he said.
The judge suggested to the state government to bring in suitable amendment to the disciplinary rules.
The amendment should be brought in with a similar provision "as provided for in, in CCS CCA rules under major penalty chapter incorporating only removal and dismissal from service in proved corruption cases, subject to of course, in exceptional cases with strong reasons needed to be recorded in writing by the disciplinary authority for imposing any other penalty."
The petitioner, who joined the police service as constable got periodic promotions and at the time of dismissal from service under PCA, he was posted as a sub-inspector.
The petitioner prolonged his litigation challenging his dismissal from the lower court up to the apex court and failed.
He again approached the higher authorities to modify the dismissal order with a mercy petition and that was also rejected by the DGP confirming the dismissal against which he filed the present petition.
Justice Parthiban observed that the tentacles of corruption have today permeated to all levels.
"If such omnipotent corruption is not checked and eradicated, practically the state will be left with nothing for the future generation to understand what is honesty, which is the very essence of civilised human existence," the judge said.
"What is being witnessed today is an alarming rise of corruption cases in public employment and the corruption is almost being elevated to the status of institutional necessity," he added.
Corruption, which was once an exception to a civilised existence, has now become a rule. At this rate, corruption would grow like a Frankenstein's monster and would annihilate the substratum of virtuous existence, the judge said.
"Unless, the monstrosity of ubiquitous corruption is handled with iron hand, it will eventually lead to a situation where the entire citizenry will be forced to participate in the game of corruption."
"The space for probity in public employment will be consumed in its entirety by the depraved officialdom. The society will ultimately degenerate into unwholesome dystopian existence, in future," the judge observed.
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