By Peerzada Mohsin Shafi

Corruption, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary is “dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially by people in authority.” The term originates from the Latin word “corruptus” meaning “to bribe, destroy, or spoil.” Josiane Fahed-Sreih, in her book “Corruption: New Insights”, delves into the historical roots of this pervasive issue. It is as old as human civilization itself. From the first dynasty of ancient Egypt (3100–2600 B.C.), where judicial corruption was rampant, to ancient Greece, where the term “corruption” was associated with the loss of physical form, integrity, or moral virtue, this malady has plagued societies for millennia.

Fast forward to the present-day corruption remains deeply entrenched in every society. In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir hundreds of corruption cases are registered annually. The new year 2025 brought with it the usual resolutions of self-improvement and repentance for everybody. However, for corrupt officials, the resolutions are different. Instead of vowing to serve the public, they seemed to resolve to exploit them further.

The ACB’s data for January 2025 paints a grim picture. In January 2025, several significant cases of corruption were exposed. On January 15, a Preliminary Enquiry was registered concerning the misappropriation of Devri Stones and the use of substandard materials in the Srinagar Smart City Project. Two days earlier, on January 13, a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case was filed against a retired Superintending Engineer from the Public Works Department (R&B). On January 10, DA cases were also registered against the Chief........

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