‘Do not give bribes’ boards mandatory in Karnataka govt offices

Bengaluru, Apr 9: In a firm step to curb corruption in government offices, the state government has directed that ‘Do not give bribes’ boards be mandatorily installed in all its offices across Karnataka.

Chief secretary Shalini Rajneesh has issued the directive, stating that the move is aimed at preventing bribery and enhancing transparency in government functioning.

As per the order, all government offices must display boards carrying the message ‘Do not give bribes’. The boards should also provide clear information on what action citizens can take if any government employee demands a bribe, along with the helpline number of the Lokayukta.

The message on the board should read: “Do not give bribes. If anyone in this office demands a bribe or if you have information regarding corruption, you may lodge a complaint with the concerned authorities or the Karnataka Lokayukta.”

In line with the recommendations of the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Committee-2, the government has decided to display anti-corruption messages in both Kannada and English to promote transparency in offices.

Additionally, all heads of departments, secretaries, and additional chief secretaries have been instructed to install another board in their offices containing complete details of the Lokayukta, including telephone numbers, addresses, and email IDs of the head office as well as district offices.

The order applies to all government offices, boards, corporations, and aided institutions across the state.