A strong, effective, quick Lok Pal to tackle corruption: PM
PM-stressed-govt is committed for a strong, effective, quick Lok Pal to tackle corruption-PM not within ambit-of-Lokpal.
Affirming govt's commitment to enact Lokpal Act that will provide for a strong and effective way to tackle corruption in high places, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said such an institution will have to work within the framework of Constitution.
He told the all-party meeting on Lokpal Bill that strong laws to tackle corruption were a necessary but these would not suffice as there was a need to focus on "simplifying procedures, reducing discretion, eliminating arbitrariness and increasing transparency in the way government functions."
Singh noted that there was a feeling that institutional arrangements in place are not strong enough to ensure that the guilty, especially those occupying high positions, are brought to book swiftly and given deterrent punishment.
"I must make it clear at the outset that we, in government, are committed to the enactment of a Lokpal Act, which provides for a strong, effective and quick institutional arrangement for tackling corruption in high places," he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
"We are also committed to bringing the bill before Parliament in the coming Monsoon Session," he said.He said the Lokpal will have "to add to and not detract from the legitimate role and authority of other institutions in our democratic structure."
Underlining that the Constitution provides for an "intricate system of checks and balances", he said the new institution of Lokpal has to find an appropriate place in that matrix."
The Prime Minister asserted, "we have to keep in mind that whatever arrangement we propose has to be for the larger good of our society and our country."
Admitting that "corruption is a major issue today" about which "there is no doubt", he said it has been the experience that whenever "institutional changes have been made, both the opportunity for and the incidence of corruption have been reduced dramatically."Singh said the government was "focussed on this process and we propose to pursue this with vigour and speed."He pointed out that there were legal and institutional arrangements in place to tackle corruption like the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Central Vigilance Commission Act and the Right to Information Act which empower citizens to have access to information and which provide for stringent action against delinquents.Media agencies
Affirming govt's commitment to enact Lokpal Act that will provide for a strong and effective way to tackle corruption in high places, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said such an institution will have to work within the framework of Constitution.
He told the all-party meeting on Lokpal Bill that strong laws to tackle corruption were a necessary but these would not suffice as there was a need to focus on "simplifying procedures, reducing discretion, eliminating arbitrariness and increasing transparency in the way government functions."
Singh noted that there was a feeling that institutional arrangements in place are not strong enough to ensure that the guilty, especially those occupying high positions, are brought to book swiftly and given deterrent punishment.
"I must make it clear at the outset that we, in government, are committed to the enactment of a Lokpal Act, which provides for a strong, effective and quick institutional arrangement for tackling corruption in high places," he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
"We are also committed to bringing the bill before Parliament in the coming Monsoon Session," he said.He said the Lokpal will have "to add to and not detract from the legitimate role and authority of other institutions in our democratic structure."
Underlining that the Constitution provides for an "intricate system of checks and balances", he said the new institution of Lokpal has to find an appropriate place in that matrix."
The Prime Minister asserted, "we have to keep in mind that whatever arrangement we propose has to be for the larger good of our society and our country."
Admitting that "corruption is a major issue today" about which "there is no doubt", he said it has been the experience that whenever "institutional changes have been made, both the opportunity for and the incidence of corruption have been reduced dramatically."Singh said the government was "focussed on this process and we propose to pursue this with vigour and speed."He pointed out that there were legal and institutional arrangements in place to tackle corruption like the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Central Vigilance Commission Act and the Right to Information Act which empower citizens to have access to information and which provide for stringent action against delinquents.Media agencies
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