By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Anti-corruption group Transparency International Monday asked the government to declare details of the assets of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his council of ministers.
Biswajit Mohanty, a board member of the Indian chapter of the organisation, said Patnaik has not disclosed his assets and liabilities as on March 31, 2012, though the deadline for doing so expired Aug 31.
“None of his ministers have done so also,” Mohanty said, citing the information posted on the government website.
“The website shows the previous year, that is 31.3.2011 statements, which need to be updated every year. Nine new ministers sworn in three months ago also have not disclosed any statements, thereby violating the code of conduct,” he told IANS.
According to the code of conduct for ministers, all of them are required to declare their assets and liabilities by Aug 31 every year.
The details to be disclosed shall consist of particulars of all immovable property and the total approximate value of shares and debentures, cash holdings and jewellery, Mohanty who wrote a letter to the chief minister in this regard, said.
“Every citizen has the right to know the details of assets and liabilities of each minister of our state, which would promote transparency in government,” Mohanty said.
Unless and until such details are disclosed, it will be impossible for people to verify if there has been an abnormal and unexplained increase in the wealth of any minister.
Senior officials in the general administration department of the state refused to comment on the matter.