'Enact laws to confiscate property of corrupt persons'

The Jammu and Kashmir high court has directed the state government to enact laws providing for confiscation of wealth and properties raised through corrupt practices while terming corruption as a "hydra-headed monster" eating into the vitals of economic and social fabric.

Disposing of a writ petition, Justice Muzaffar Attar directed "the state of Jammu and Kashmir to take steps for amending the Prevention of Corruption Act or make new laws for retrieving the wealth and for confiscating properties which have been accumulated through corrupt practices".

Justice Attar dismissed the petition yesterday filed by Mohammad Amin Beigh who sought quashing of his detention under the Public Safety Act.

Beigh, a resident of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, was slapped with PSA by District Magistrate Srinagar earlier this year after police investigations revealed that he was involved in "monetary and sexual exploitation of women" under the garb of providing them employment.

"The greatest challenge to the body politic is from hydra-headed monster of corruption. The menace of corruption has corroded the basic human values," the Judge said.

"It has created a neo-rich class in society. Corrupt people are parasites who swell themselves by sucking blood of the poorest of poor," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir already has a law -- Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 -- which provides for confiscation of property raised through corrupt practices but the existing legislation only covers government employees.

The state Vigilance Organisation has confiscated properties of government employees in 15 disproportionate assets cases since the legislation came into force.