Jammu, March 8 (NationPress) Lt Governor Manoj Sinha emphasized on Sunday that Jammu and Kashmir is no longer accepting mediocrity; instead, it is boldly setting its sights on grand aspirations.

During the inauguration of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) headquarters located in Sidhra, Jammu city, L-G Sinha stated, “Jammu and Kashmir has moved past mediocrity and is now ready to dream big.”

At the ceremony, he highlighted the significant transformations the region has experienced in recent years, enhancing the transparency of its systems.

After unveiling the ACB headquarters, L-G Sinha shared on X, “These two buildings are not just mere constructions of steel, glass, and concrete; they symbolize a strong commitment to transparency in public affairs and a corruption-free Union Territory. Today, J&K is at a crucial turning point. In the last 5-6 years, we have implemented transformative initiatives, ensuring the system is transparent and dedicated to serving the public. The entire framework now functions for the benefit of all residents across the UT. J&K has ceased to accept mediocrity. It is now poised to dream big.”

The L-G noted that there is a growing belief among the populace that a prosperous future awaits them. He emphasized that fulfilling this vision is also the duty of the officers and personnel at the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

“I urged the ACB to guarantee that every decision, investigation, and prosecution withstands judicial scrutiny and must leverage the authority granted by the nation’s Constitution to unveil injustices, eliminate corruption, and earn public trust,” he articulated.

The ACB serves as the leading anti-corruption agency in the union territory, primarily focused on combating corruption. Initially, corruption and bribery offenses against government employees were governed solely by the Ranbir Penal Code of 1932. Up until 1949, local police were responsible for registering and investigating these cases.

In 1962, a dedicated entity known as the 'Anti-Corruption Organisation' was established to handle all matters related to bribery and corruption.

Over the years, various laws have been enacted to effectively tackle corruption. The most notable of these was the Prevention of Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983 A.D., which transformed the “Anti-Corruption Organisation” into the “State Vigilance Organisation,” along with the J&K Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions Act, 1983.

With the introduction of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act in 2006, a dedicated “Anti-Corruption Wing” was established within the State Crime Branch to investigate cases.

This legislation expanded the reach of corruption laws to include elected representatives from various public bodies, such as MLAs and Ministers, mandating them to file Annual Property Returns. Non-compliance was classified as an offense under the P.C. Act of 2006. To streamline investigations, two police stations were established—one in Jammu and another in Srinagar.

These stations address corruption-related offenses as outlined in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006, and offenses involving Public Servants as defined in the Jammu & Kashmir Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and Other Provisions Act.