Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 24: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed here today that the new anti-graft law fixes two year timeline to decide the corruption cases against public servants.
In reply to a four-hour debate in Lok Sabha on the historic “Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill”, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there was a common refrain in the society that corruption cases are lodged against public servants and they carry on for years together, sometimes even after the officer has retired or may have even passed away. Fixing of a two year timeline for deciding the corruption cases, he said, will not only expedite the decision making process but would also avoid unnecessary harassment or ordeal that an affected officer or a public servant had to undergo in the past.
Another very important relief given to a public servant, through new legislation, is that in any corruption case against him, the factor of “undue advantage” will have to be established,he added.
Highlighting some of the other important contents of the new legislation, Dr Jitendra Singh said, there will now be a mandatory requirement to seek permission before proceeding to prosecute or inquire any officer and this permission will be required in case of every officer, regardless of his level in hierarchy. Not only this, he said, even the retired officers will enjoy this impunity and will not be proceeded against without prior permission from the competent authority.
Dr Jitendra Singh thanked the members of Lok Sabha across the party lines for having unanimously supported all the clauses of the Bill and offered their constructive suggestions, rising above arty lines.
The new legislation, Dr Jitendra Singh said, is also wide-based and covers even the bribe-giving commercial organizations to be liable for punishment or prosecution. However, the charitable institutions have been left out of this ambit.
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