Policy statements by successive governments, highlighting “ Zero tolerance to corruption” have been non-starters? Recent initiatives by the present political dispensation brazenly contradict the stated policy:-- (a)With amendment to Prevention of corruption Act, the already thin dividing line between " corruption" and honest error " has vanished . Giving benefit of doubt to corrupt civil servants is now discretionary , liable to be misused by the Executive apparently for boosting the “ sagging morale “ of bureaucracy.
(b) No smoke without fire. Verifiable anonymous complaints, at times, contain explosive information about illegal practices . Suppression is unethical .These must be pursued to logical culmination . Trashing the same will oxygenate scams. It would be simplistic to ignore un-named complaints citing reasons like “Policy paralysis “ , shortage of manpower in anti-corruption agencies like CBI, CVC, CVOs, ED, IT for verification. Fill vacancies with best brains instead of making excuses. Strengthen Vigilance wings in all ministries, deptts, PSUs and autonomous organizations.
(c)PM’s latest directive prohibiting govt. officers from sending even named complaints to PMO , amounts to bureaucratic gag.What is the alternative,if, HODs in ministries refuse to take these seriously. Need for preventive vigilance has been diluted. Non-cognizance of anonymous complaints will force- multiply corruption. Worse still, in absence of protection to whistleblowers, sending “ named “ complaints is dangerous.
PM Modi is urged to re-visit the policy decisions against this background.
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