Ministries told to fast track corruption cases

The government has asked the concerned ministries and departments to grant the necessary sanction within the stipulated time limit against officials allegedly involved in graft cases to remove hurdles for their trials in courts.

The government has asked the concerned ministries and departments to grant the necessary sanction within the stipulated time limit against officials allegedly involved in graft cases to remove hurdles for their trials in courts.

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Following the setting-up of a nine-member group of ministers (GoM) headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee last month to finalise the anti-corruption mechanism, the department for personnel and training (DoPT), has written to the ministries and public sector units on the issue.

“The department has outlined the follow-up action on the timely grant of sanction for prosecution. The minister of state (personnel) has also mentioned that he has written to all concerned ministers to decide on the pending cases for sanction well in time,” the DoPT has informed the GoM.

“The department has also urged the GoM about the need for timely disposal of cases and the need to show urgency on this issue,” according to the GoM minutes accessed by HT.

The government had informed the Supreme Court last December that sanction for prosecution was awaited in 126 cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act against various public servants.

The total number of individuals named in these cases are 319. The break-up is: all-India services (2), government (166), public sector undertakings (83), banks and financial institutions (60) and others (8).

Cases against these officials were registered between the years 2000 and 2010, with the Customs and Central Excise accounting for the maximum number of 69 individuals, followed by the department of telecom with 32.

The GoM is also examining the possibility of scrapping article 311 of the constitution which protects government officials against arbitrary dismissal and punishment.

The GoM is also looking into whether a section in the law, which makes it mandatory for the CBI to seek government nod before probing a case involving any official of the rank of joint secretary and above, is required at all. Currently, except in cases where an official is caught red handed by the agency, the permission is required.

Need for speed

A nine-member GoM headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was set up to finalise the anti-corruption mechanism

Fast tracking cases against corrupt officials will help remove hurdles for their trials in courts

Sanction for prosecution is awaited in 126 cases registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act

The GoM is also examining the possibility of scrapping article 311 of the constitution which protects government officials against arbitrary dismissal and punishment.