Group of ministers in place, PM Manmohan Singh ready to take on corruption

Prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh is set to launch a full-blown war against corruption after January 14, Makar Sankranti.

He has already asked finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the group of ministers (GoM) on corruption, to offer interim recommendations even though the GoM has a 60-day time-frame to do so.

The cabinet reshuffle, which is due soon, will reflect the PM’s determination to fight corrupt elements within the political and bureaucratic system.

He himself is seized of the issue of corruption in high places. A crucial step in this regard will be his decision on bringing the prime minister under the purview of the Lokpal.

The Lokpal bill has been considered at length by different governments at the Centre during the past 40 years but there has been no decision yet. Singh is also keen on curtailing the discretionary powers of ministers and bureaucrats. He has seldom used his own and intends to discard them. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has already written to ministers and chief ministers to give up their discretionary powers.

Sources in the PMO told DNA that Singh is keen on the summary trial of bureaucrats who take advantage of rules and procedures to delay punitive action.

He wants time-bound action against bureaucrats caught red-handed taking bribes or seeking favours from the corporates.

Singh wants law minister M Veerappa Moily to suggest ways to fast-track proceedings in courts. Even if an amendment to the constitution providing for summary proceedings in such cases is required, he is keen to bring it through in the budget session itself; steps include setting up of special courts for cases which draw huge public attention.

The PM has also directed the secretary (personnel) that all pending cases where government sanction is needed for action against corrupt babus be cleared within the stipulated time-frame. He is understood to have already given a free hand to investigating agencies to deal with rouge elements in the Commonwealth Games sternly.

The PM is also in harmony with the chief election commissioner SY Qureshi who wants demonstrative action against politicians charged with criminal activities and corruption. The eight-member GoM was set up last week to recommend “all measures, legislative and administrative, to tackle corruption and improve transparency”.

Minister’s group to study graft
A formal notification on the constitution of a group of ministers (GoM) to study corruption in all aspects was issued on Monday. The terms of reference include state funding of elections; transparency in public procurement and contracts and enunciation of a new public procurement policy; discretionary powers enjoyed by Union ministers; and introduction of open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources.

P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, AK Antony, M Veerappa Moily, Kapil Sibal, Mamata Banerjee and MK Alagiri are other members of this committee. The GoM is to submit its report within 60 days.