Anna fast: Government highlights steps taken against corruption

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the indefinite fast by Anna Hazare and his team, the government today highlighted the slew of measures taken by it over the last one year to tackle corruption which include curbing the discretionary powers of ministers and time-bound decisions on prosecution requests.

The measures also include bringing about transparency in delivery of services besides the passage of Lokpal Bill and Protection of Whistle-blowers' Bill by the Lok Sabha.

According to the data compiled by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on anti-corruption steps, the government has directed that requests for sanction of prosecution should be decided upon by the competent authority within a period of three months.

It was based on the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) set up in January 2011 to consider measures to tackle corruption which submitted two reports.

The government also decided that for all officers of the central government above the rank of Joint Secretary, the competent authority to approve initiation of enquiry/ investigation under Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act will be the Minister-in-charge in the government.

The recommendation of the GoM to put in place regulatory parameters for exercise of discretionary powers by ministers and to place them in public domain was also accepted.

The data was released on the eve of the indefinite fast by Hazare and his team to press for concrete steps by government against corruption and action against some ministers whom they accuse of graft.

The data also refers to the passage of a comprehensive Lokpal and Lakyuktas Bill, 2011 and the Whistle-blowers' Protection Bill 2011 by the Lok Sabha. Both these legislations are at present with the Rajya Sabha.