A government official in Shivamogga has been sentenced to four years in prison for accepting a bribe to approve a disability pension. Girish of D.B. Halli in Holehonnur hobli had sought the benefit for his father, Parameshwarappa, who has been speech-impaired since birth.
SHIVAMOGGA: In the special court of Shivamogga, former sub-tahsildar Pushpalatha has been awarded four years’ imprisonment for taking a bribe from a farmer, who was trying to procure a disability pension for his father. Apart from this, a fine of ₹40,000 has been slapped on her.
Pushpalatha was working as sub-tahsildar at Nadakacheri in Kallihal, Holehonnur hobli, Bhadravati taluk. Her case dates back to 2017. According to Karnataka Lokayukta, 33-year-old farmer Girish of D.B. Halli came to her, having a medical certificate for his father Parameshwarappa suffering from speech and hearing impairment since birth. They were looking for the disability pension as it is provided to such eligible persons.
According to investigators, the official demanded ₹10,000 from him to clear the application. As he reported it to Lokayukta officials, they made a trap for her. On September 21, 2017, officers apprehended her while she was accepting ₹5,000 at the Bhadravati Taluk Office.
Inspector J.S. Thippeswamy conducted the inquiry into this complaint and then submitted a charge sheet before the court. Special Public Prosecutor Sundar Raj represented the government in the court.
Pushpalatha was convicted by the First Additional District and Sessions and Special Court based on the arguments made by the prosecution. She was sentenced to spend four years in jail along with the ₹40,000 fine.
This verdict brings to an end the case which has been lingering within the legal system for close to nine years since the trap set up by the Lokayukta. This is yet another example of how the access to welfare programmes may be challenging for some families that are in need of financial help from the government.
In the case of Girish, the application was simply not a plea for getting some sort of preferential treatment but the way of getting the welfare benefit using the legal process provided by the government.
The disability pension is provided by the government to those who have physical or sensory disability which hinders them to earn income or meet the cost of living. Asking for the payment illegally to get the money meant for the welfare programme adds to the trouble for such families who need public assistance.
