complainants as well as the prosecution make sincere efforts to ensure that the corrupt public servants are brought to book

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

S. ABDUL NAZEER; J., B.R. GAVAI; J., A.S. BOPANNA; J., V. RAMASUBRAMANIAN; J., 

B. V. NAGARATHNA; J.

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1669 OF 2009; 15 December, 2022

NEERAJ DUTTA versus STATE (GOVT. OF N.C.T. OF DELHI)

71. ... Before we conclude, we hope

and trust that the complainants as well as the prosecution make sincere efforts to ensure

that the corrupt public servants are brought to book and convicted so that the

administration and governance becomes unpolluted and free from corruption. In this

regard, we would like to reiterate what has been stated by this Court in Swatantar Singh

vs. State of Haryana (1997) 4 SCC 14:

“6. ………..Corruption is corroding, like cancerous lymph nodes, the vital veins of the body politic,

social fabric of efficiency in the public service and demoralising the honest officers. The efficiency

in public service would improve only when the public servant devotes his sincere attention and

does the duty diligently, truthfully, honestly and devotes himself assiduously to the performance

of the duties of his post. The reputation of corruption would gather thick and unchaseable clouds

around the conduct of the officer and gain notoriety much faster than the smoke”.

The above has been reiterated in A.B. Bhaskara Rao vs. CBI (2011) 10 SCC 259 by

quoting as under from the case of State of M.P. vs. Shambhu Dayal (2006) 8 SCC 693:

“32. It is difficult to accept the prayer of the respondent that a lenient view be taken in this case.

The corruption by public servants has become a gigantic problem. It has spread everywhere. No

facet of public activity has been left unaffected by the stink of corruption. It has deep and pervasive

impact on the functioning of the entire country. Large-scale corruption retards the nation-building

activities and everyone has to suffer on that count.”