Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 18: Government of India is considering changes in anti-corruption legislations to make it mandatory for CBI or any other investigating agency to seek prior approval before ordering probe into corruption charges against Government servants.
When contacted, Union Personnel Minister Dr Jitendra Singh,who is also Minister for Northeast and MoS PMO,Atomic Energy and Space, said,the Government is in favour of providing an officer-friendly and cordial atmosphere for employees where they can work to their full potential.
Earlier, the permission for prosecution was required only for officers of the level of Joint Secretary and above but now it will be required for all officers at all levels including at the junior level,he explained.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, or Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, or Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Lokpal will have the power to grant sanction for prosecution, according to the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act.
This mean CBI or any other investigating agency need to take permission from the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas or similar bodies in the States before probing corruption charges.
The 6A clause of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DPSE) Act, which governs CBI, says no inquiry or probe can be conducted into any offence alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, except with prior approval of the Central Government. Similar provisions exist in the CrPC and PC Act.
The Supreme Court had, in March last year, held as “invalid and unconstitutional” the legal provision which makes sanction of competent authority mandatory for CBI to probe a corruption case against an officer of Joint Secretary-rank or above, saying it has the propensity of shielding the corrupt.
When contacted, Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh said this was being done to ensure efficient and transparent working of the employees.
“The Government does not want to discriminate against any employee at any level. We want to make a cordial atmosphere to ensure efficient and transparent working of the employees,” Singh said.
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