Tamil Nadu orders anti-bribery displays across Government offices
The Tamil Nadu government has directed all government departments, district administrations, local bodies, public sector undertakings and state-run companies to prominently display anti-corruption notice boards in offices that receive public visitors.
The order, issued by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar on July 14, states that many offices had failed to fully implement earlier instructions issued since 2006 regarding the installation of anti-bribery boards. In several locations, the notices were either absent or placed where they were not easily visible.
Under the revised directive, every office must install bilingual notice boards in Tamil and English carrying the message that both giving and accepting bribes are offences. The boards must also provide the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) contact details, including its address, telephone numbers, WhatsApp number, fax number and email address, enabling citizens to report corruption.
In addition, all government departments have been instructed to display the same information on their official websites with a link to the DVAC portal. The order also extends to government boards, corporations, local bodies and public sector undertakings functioning under the administrative control of various departments.
Inspection wings and district collectorate inspection cells have been tasked with checking whether the directions have been implemented during routine inspections. Department heads must submit compliance reports to the Human Resources Management Department after ensuring that all offices under their jurisdiction have followed the instructions.
The renewed push for compliance follows the recent launch of a dedicated DVAC WhatsApp helpline, 94981 80936, aimed at making it easier for the public to report instances of corruption.