Corruption undermines democracy and
the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets and
erodes the quality of life. Corruption
hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for
development, undermining Government’s ability to provide basic services,
feeding inequality and injustice. Further,
corruption is an impediment to faster growth. It not only dilutes but also negates
our efforts at social inclusion and dents our international image.
Corruption thrives where
transparency is lacking, procedures are complicated, discretion of a high
order is permitted and where there is a demand supply gap. Government is
tackling these situations by encouraging greater transparency, introducing
simplified procedures, reducing scope for discretion, etc.
As per information provided by the
CBI, it has registered 109 cases [81 Regular Cases (RCs) and 28 Preliminary
Enquiries (PEs)] against officials of the rank of Joint Secretary & above
during the last 3 years. The
corruption cases/PEshave been registered on the allegations
of irregularities in award of contracts, Disproportionate Assets cases, Trap
cases, Criminal Misconduct etc. Besides these cases, the CBI has several
important cases involving allegations of high level corruption during last 3
years i.e 2009 to 2012 (up to 31.10.2012) such
as :-
(i) 2G Cases (3 RCs & 1
PE)
(ii) CWG Cases (19 RCs &
10 PEs)
(iii) NRHM Cases (20 RCs & 5 PEs)
(iv) Tatra Truck Case
(v) Coal
Block Cases (9 RCs & 3 PEs)
(vi) Iron ore Cases (12 RCs)
(vii) Adarsh Society Case etc.
The fight against corruption is an
ongoing process and it is the Endeavour of
the Government to strengthen its anti-corruption laws and other mechanisms
from time to time so as to ensure that the corrupt, irrespective of their
status, are punished effectively and expeditiously. To strengthen the anti-corruption
mechanism, the Central Government has introduced a number of legislations in
the Parliament in the recent past. Some
of them are-
(i) The Lokpal & Lokayuktas Bill, 2011;
(ii) The Whistle-blowers Protection Bill, 2011;
(iii) The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and
Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011; and
(iv) The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and
Services and Redressal of
the Grievances Bill, 2011; and
(v) The Public Procurement Bill, 2012.
Besides the legislation, necessary
revamping of administrative practices and procedures are on fast-track. The
Government is fully alive and committed to implement its policy of “Zero
Tolerance against Corruption” and has already taken several steps in the
recent past to combat corruption and improve the functioning of Government.
Theseinclude:-
(i) Enactment of Right to Information Act, 2005;
(ii) Issue of comprehensive instructions on transparency in
tendering and contracting process by the CVC;
(iii) Issue of instructions by the CVC asking the organizations
to adopt Integrity Pact in major Government procurement activities; State
Governments have also been advised to adopt Integrity Pact in major
procurements;
(iv) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedures
and systems;
(v) Issue of Citizen Charters;
(vi) Ratification of United Nations Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC) in 2011;
(vii) Placing of details of immovable property returns of all
Members of the All India Services and other Group ‘A’ officers of the Central
Government in the public domain;
(viii) Introduction of the Judicial Standards and Accountability
Bill, 2010 in the Parliament (passed by theLok Sabha on 29.3.2012); and
(ix) Setting up of 71 additional Special Courts exclusively for
trial of CBI cases in different states. (66 Courts have already started
functioning).
This was stated by Shri V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Ministry of
Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension and Minister of State in the Prime
Minister’s Office in written reply to a question by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh Alias Lalan Singh and Shri Anantkumar Hegde in the Lok Sabha today.
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