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AP Singh opposes Team Anna’s idea to bifurcate agency
CBI Director AP Singh on Friday spoke Team Anna’s language by citing as major impediments the ‘mandatory’ provision of seeking sanction for prosecuting officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above in probing anti-corruption cases.
However, he differed with Team Anna by strongly opposing bifurcation of the CBI and merging its anti-corruption wing with Lokpal. Singh said, “Given the composite nature of CBI which is its intrinsic strength, I am of the firm belief that such a proposal is neither practical nor advisable. In any effort to strengthen the mechanism to combat corruption, CBI must be an integral and independent component.”
His statement on ‘prosecution sanction’ assumes significance against the backdrop of the fact that Government’s Lokpal Bill provides for investigation of cases only against Joint Secretary and above.
The Centre has also strongly opposed Team Anna’s demand for bringing all officers and employees within the ambit of Lokpal and doing away with the requirement of prosecution sanction.
“There are certain major impediments faced by anti-corruption agencies. Section 6(A) of DSPE Act, 1946, does not allow CBI to conduct an enquiry or investigation into offences committed by an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and above without the prior permission of the Government. There are also delay in getting sanction for prosecution, execution of Letters Rogatory and requests for investigation of offences abroad,” Singh said at theinauguration of the two-day conference here.
“Recent cases such as 2G, CWG, and the introduction of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament have initiated a national debate on corruption. This is the opportune moment to strengthen and functionally empower the existing anti-corruption agencies to realise their full potential,” the CBI chief added.
He further said, “Augmentation of manpower and greater functional autonomy for CBI is the need of the hour to keep pace with growing expectations of the higher judiciary, Government and the common man.”
The CBI Director also said that another major impediment in probing anti-corruption cases was the delay in trial of cases.
CBI alone has 10,000 cases pending trial, Singh said adding that the menace of corruption cannot be tackled through anti-corruption agencies alone but a multi-dimensional approach is required.
Citing imbalance in the demand and supply of goods as a major reason for corruption at the grassroots level affecting the average citizen, he said, “We have seen that with improvement in service delivery in certain sectors such as Telecom, Aviation and gas connections for households, opportunities for indulging in corrupt practices have greatly reduced. This shows that if we are able to cater to the daily needs of our citizens and also minimise their interface with the bureaucracy, we could insulate them to a large extent from the phenomenon of corruption.”
Calling for devising strategies against corruption, he said, “We are aware that there is today a mood of increasing intolerance to corruption in the country…. Therefore, this is the opportune moment to formulate our strategies to take action against all the corrupt elements in our society and deliver positive results. We cannot afford to be passive spectators.”
To buttress his point, Singh quoted former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s speech during a debate in Parliament on allegations of corruption against certain Ministers.
Shashtri had said, “We, who are privileged to hold public offices and positions of responsibility should always fully realise the need for the maintenance of the right standards of conduct. Only then we will deserve public confidence and support.”
Strongly opposing bifurcation of the CBI, as proposed by Team Anna, and merging of its anti-corruption wing with Lokpal, Singh said, “Given the composite nature of CBI which is its intrinsic strength, I am of the firm belief that such a proposal is neither practical nor advisable. Any effort to strengthen the mechanism to combat corruption, CBI must be an integral and independent component.”
“I would again strongly advocate that at no cost should the CBI be bifurcated or divested of its anti-corruption mandate, he added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also spoke at the inaugural session of the conference, assured the CBI that the agency will continue to play an important role despite establishment of the institution of Lokpal.
The Prime Minister said, “”We hope to see the establishment of a strong and effective Lokpal in the coming months. Whatever be the structure and functions of the Lokpal when it is established, the CBI as our premier investigating agency will continue to play a very important role in our efforts for ensuring probity in our public life.”
CBI Director AP Singh on Friday spoke Team Anna’s language by citing as major impediments the ‘mandatory’ provision of seeking sanction for prosecuting officials of the rank of Joint Secretary and above in probing anti-corruption cases.
However, he differed with Team Anna by strongly opposing bifurcation of the CBI and merging its anti-corruption wing with Lokpal. Singh said, “Given the composite nature of CBI which is its intrinsic strength, I am of the firm belief that such a proposal is neither practical nor advisable. In any effort to strengthen the mechanism to combat corruption, CBI must be an integral and independent component.”
His statement on ‘prosecution sanction’ assumes significance against the backdrop of the fact that Government’s Lokpal Bill provides for investigation of cases only against Joint Secretary and above.
The Centre has also strongly opposed Team Anna’s demand for bringing all officers and employees within the ambit of Lokpal and doing away with the requirement of prosecution sanction.
“There are certain major impediments faced by anti-corruption agencies. Section 6(A) of DSPE Act, 1946, does not allow CBI to conduct an enquiry or investigation into offences committed by an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and above without the prior permission of the Government. There are also delay in getting sanction for prosecution, execution of Letters Rogatory and requests for investigation of offences abroad,” Singh said at theinauguration of the two-day conference here.
“Recent cases such as 2G, CWG, and the introduction of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament have initiated a national debate on corruption. This is the opportune moment to strengthen and functionally empower the existing anti-corruption agencies to realise their full potential,” the CBI chief added.
He further said, “Augmentation of manpower and greater functional autonomy for CBI is the need of the hour to keep pace with growing expectations of the higher judiciary, Government and the common man.”
The CBI Director also said that another major impediment in probing anti-corruption cases was the delay in trial of cases.
CBI alone has 10,000 cases pending trial, Singh said adding that the menace of corruption cannot be tackled through anti-corruption agencies alone but a multi-dimensional approach is required.
Citing imbalance in the demand and supply of goods as a major reason for corruption at the grassroots level affecting the average citizen, he said, “We have seen that with improvement in service delivery in certain sectors such as Telecom, Aviation and gas connections for households, opportunities for indulging in corrupt practices have greatly reduced. This shows that if we are able to cater to the daily needs of our citizens and also minimise their interface with the bureaucracy, we could insulate them to a large extent from the phenomenon of corruption.”
Calling for devising strategies against corruption, he said, “We are aware that there is today a mood of increasing intolerance to corruption in the country…. Therefore, this is the opportune moment to formulate our strategies to take action against all the corrupt elements in our society and deliver positive results. We cannot afford to be passive spectators.”
To buttress his point, Singh quoted former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s speech during a debate in Parliament on allegations of corruption against certain Ministers.
Shashtri had said, “We, who are privileged to hold public offices and positions of responsibility should always fully realise the need for the maintenance of the right standards of conduct. Only then we will deserve public confidence and support.”
Strongly opposing bifurcation of the CBI, as proposed by Team Anna, and merging of its anti-corruption wing with Lokpal, Singh said, “Given the composite nature of CBI which is its intrinsic strength, I am of the firm belief that such a proposal is neither practical nor advisable. Any effort to strengthen the mechanism to combat corruption, CBI must be an integral and independent component.”
“I would again strongly advocate that at no cost should the CBI be bifurcated or divested of its anti-corruption mandate, he added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who also spoke at the inaugural session of the conference, assured the CBI that the agency will continue to play an important role despite establishment of the institution of Lokpal.
The Prime Minister said, “”We hope to see the establishment of a strong and effective Lokpal in the coming months. Whatever be the structure and functions of the Lokpal when it is established, the CBI as our premier investigating agency will continue to play a very important role in our efforts for ensuring probity in our public life.”
