Transparency – Tamil Nadu Mandates Prominent Anti-Bribery Displays Across Government Offices

Transparency – Tamil Nadu has intensified its campaign to promote transparency in government administration by introducing stricter measures aimed at improving public awareness and encouraging the reporting of corruption.

The Tamil Nadu government has issued fresh instructions requiring every government department, district administration, local authority, public sector undertaking, and state-owned enterprise to prominently display anti-bribery notice boards in offices accessible to the public. The initiative is intended to reinforce awareness that both offering and accepting bribes are criminal offences while making it easier for citizens to report corrupt practices.

Government Issues Fresh Administrative Order

The latest directive was issued through a Government Order signed by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar on July 14. Under the revised instructions, all government offices must install bilingual notice boards in both Tamil and English at locations where visitors can easily see them. Authorities believe that clear visibility of these boards will improve public awareness and strengthen confidence in reporting wrongdoing.

Alongside the physical displays, departments have also been instructed to publish the same anti-corruption message on their official websites. Every website must include a direct link to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) portal so that citizens can quickly access complaint-related information online.

Earlier Compliance Found Inadequate

According to the government order, similar directions have been issued several times since 2006. However, inspections revealed that implementation remained inconsistent across various offices. In many cases, the required boards had not been installed, while in others they were placed in areas that were not easily visible to members of the public.

The latest move seeks to eliminate these inconsistencies by ensuring that every government establishment follows a uniform standard. Officials have been directed to complete the installation process without unnecessary delay and ensure that the prescribed guidelines are followed in full.

Notice Boards to Include Contact Information

The notice boards will prominently carry the message stating that both giving and receiving bribes constitute punishable offences. In addition, they will provide the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption’s official contact details, including its office address, telephone numbers, WhatsApp contact, fax number, and official email address.

The government expects that making this information readily available will encourage citizens to report suspected corruption more conveniently. Departments have also been instructed to extend these directions to all statutory boards, government corporations, local bodies, government-owned companies, and public sector undertakings functioning under their administrative control.

Inspection Teams Assigned to Monitor Implementation

To ensure that the directive is followed uniformly, inspection wings attached to different government departments, along with inspection cells operating under district collectorates, have been assigned the responsibility of verifying compliance. During inspections, officials will check whether notice boards have been installed at the prescribed locations and whether every office has fully implemented the government’s instructions.

The state has also asked department secretaries and heads of departments to review compliance within their respective jurisdictions. After confirming that all subordinate offices have carried out the required measures, they must submit compliance reports to the Human Resources Management Department.

Part of Broader Anti-Corruption Measures

The latest administrative step follows the recent launch of a dedicated DVAC WhatsApp helpline, 9498180936, introduced to make reporting corruption faster and more accessible. Together with the mandatory display of anti-bribery information, the government aims to strengthen transparency, improve accountability in public administration, and provide citizens with easier channels to raise complaints regarding corrupt practices.