New Delhi: Corruption is not just an offence but also undermines others human rights leading to systematic economic crimes, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held. The apex court said a public servant, who is found guilty of corruption, has to be treated as corrupt until he is exonerated by a superior court. "Corruption is not only a punishable offence but also undermines human rights, indirectly violating them, and systematic corruption, is a human rights' violation in itself, as it leads to systematic economic crimes," a bench of justices B S Chauhan and FMI Kalifulla said.
The bench set aside the Bombay High Court's order of staying conviction of an excise officer in a disproportionate case. It dismissed the officer's contention that he would lose his job during the hearing of his appeal if the trial court order of sentencing him two-year jail term for amassing disproportionate assets of around 7.5 lakh.
"Relief of staying the order of conviction cannot be granted only on the ground that an employee may lose his job, if the same is not done," the bench said. "... when a public servant is found guilty of corruption by a court, he has to be treated as corrupt until he is exonerated by a superior court in appeal/revision," the apex court said while referring to its earlier verdict.
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