INTRODUCTION

In the previous chapter, we discussed the nature of corruption and the existing government structures for dealing with it. Corruption has become a subject of intense public debate. TV channels and print media have been continuously highlighting many issues of corruption. Many expert bodies and higher judiciary have made many suggestions on how to curb corruption. Social activists have organized agitations on corruption related matters, notably the Jan Lokpal legislation. These have brought certain issues on corruption to the centrestage. We will now consider these issues on the basis of the SARC’s report on Ethics in governance (fourth report).

These issues are (i) delays in departmental (or disciplinary) proceedings against corrupt officials; (ii) the need for prior government sanction for prosecuting corrupt officials;

(iii) speeding up trials of corruption cases; (iv) making corrupt public servants liable for damages for their actions; (v) confiscation of properties acquired through corruption; (vi) prohibition of ‘Benami’ Transactions; (vii) protection to whistleblowers; and (viii) doing away with Article 311 of constitution which gives excessivejob security to government servants.