The High Court has stressed that corruption threatens the very foundation of democracy and weakens the rule of law. Allegations of misconduct related to corruption should never be taken lightly by courts or tribunals, the court observed.
A division bench of Justices S. Sunil Datt Yadav and Vijaykumar A. Patil delivered the order while hearing a state government appeal against a Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) decision that had quashed the compulsory retirement of a village accountant accused of accepting a bribe. The court noted that corruption not only undermines public trust but also weakens institutions meant to uphold the law. Courts must act decisively in such matters and ensure accountability rather than remain passive observers.
The bench examined evidence and testimonies in the case, which involved a village accountant, Shivanagouda Vasand, serving in Kelvadi village, Badami taluk, Bagalkote district in 2011. He was alleged to have demanded a Rs 2,500 bribe for correcting revenue records. Following a Lokayukta complaint and investigation by district officials, a report was submitted in 2019. Based on this, the government issued a compulsory retirement order in October 2020. The tribunal had earlier overturned this action, but the High Court, reviewing the documents, noted that departmental inquiries and evidence sufficiently established misconduct, separate from any criminal case.
The court emphasized that the charges against an employee must be evaluated seriously, supported by oral and documentary evidence. Dismissing tribunal reasoning that ignored these aspects, the High Court upheld the government’s contention that proper action was warranted, reinforcing accountability in corruption-related matters.