71 fast track CBI courts and 3-month limit for sanctioning prosecution among measures by govt to go beyond Lokpal to curb corruption

NEW DELHI: The UPA Government has announced a series of measures to tackle corruption, including setting up of 71 fast-track special CBI courts, nine months after Congress President Sonia Gandhi promised the government would take corruption head on.

The new measures recommended by a group of ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee includes a three-month time-frame for sanctioning prosecution, strengthening the Central Vigilance Commission and a bill to make procurement by government agencies more transparent.

The GoM was set up in January, after a Congress plenary session in Burari last December, where Gandhi announced that UPA would tackle corruption head on and her party would follow a five-point agenda to curb the menace.

Since then, a massive national movement against corruption led by activist Anna Hazare caught the government and Congress off guard and a Lokpal bill was hurriedly introduced in Parliament. The announcement on the new administrative measures comes even as the Lokpal bill is with a standing committee. There is no consensus, yet, between the government and the civil society activists about several key provisions of the Lokpal bill.

A new committee will be set up to look into CBI cases that have been pending for 10 or more years. The committee will comprise a retired CBI director, retired CVC and an eminent member of civil society. It can suggest ways for speedy disposal or withdrawal of the case.

Bureaucrats can lose up to 20% of their pension if found guilty of corruption. If permission is denied by a competent authority for sanction of prosecution, it must submit reasons to the next higher authority within a week. CBI special courts that have been sanctioned will be expedited. The vigilance wing of the Department of Personnel And Training is to be strengthened.

A government statement said the GoM decided to leave the discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers intact but guidelines would be formed, wherever none exists, on nomination of individuals to positions on boards, committees, etc.

"The government is very concerned about corruption and has taken steps. Anna Hazare gave his views. We are considering it. That does not mean whatever he says is going to be accepted. There are several other views also," MoS in the PMO, V Narayanasamy, said.