The 2G spectrum scam, Adarsh housing scandal, Commonwealth Games scam … of late, the list of corruption cases in India seems unending. The question is, why our government is not able to curb corruption.
In such a scenario, I believe Jan Lokpal Bill is really the answer. If government can set up a committee for investigation into the cases of corruption then why not a body or an organisation that only and only looks into the cases of corruption. The Jan Lokpal Bill seeks to provide legal assurance to the people, and will create threat in the mind of those who are engaged in corruption. As far as agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) are concerned, the functioning and authority of these agencies should be totally reworked.
It must be understood that the Jan Lokpal Bill actually seeks to improve on the facets of the current Lokpal Bill that are lacking. Bringing the anti-corruption wing of the CBI as well as the office of the CVC under the administrative ambit of the Lokpal will help to ensure a greater deal of independence from the government and will also lead to a higher level of transparency.
Also, the merged body will have the complete power to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician, cutting out potential roadblocks placed by the government. Another weakness in the government?s version of the Bill is that it seeks a three-member committee, with representatives chosen by the government, which has the same shortcomings as that of the appointment of the CVC, that is, once again the government is electing the very people who are going to investigate it. Again, there is no guarantee about the strength of character. This is addressed by the Jan Lokpal, under which complaints against any officer of the Lokpal will be investigated, completed in a month and dismissed within two months.
The author is a student at Jaipuria Group of Management Institutions