Rajya Sabha passes amendments to anti-graft law

Ravi S.Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 19

Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the amendments to anti-graft law making it more stringent which include making bribe-giving an offence.

The bill, seeking amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was first floated by the Congress-led UPA in 2013. It was taken up today by the Upper House after being sent back to it by its Select Committee.

A total of 46 amendments were proposed in the bill.

The amendment bill redefines criminal misconduct to expand its application encompassing misappropriation of property and the possession of disproportionate assets.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension Jitendra Singh said the need for amendments was a continuing process of improvement in existing laws. "Had the law been perfect, there would have been no need to constitute CAT, CVC, and enact Right to Information Act, come up with bill on Lok Pal." This was in response to Congress Deputy Leader in the House Anand Sharma's remarks that ample laws were in vogue, and enough could be achieved by invoking them, provided the intent was right.

He said the bill sought to make the anti-graft law robust. The bribe givers will also be brought to book, but enough safe guards have been taken to prevent its misuse.

He assured to look consider suggestions by Opposition members not to equate bribe givers with bribe takers as the formers are generally coerced into the crime.

He said the bill also has enough safeguards to protect honest officers so as to allow them to work in rightful ambience and without being harassed, but mete harsher treatment to dishonest ones. 

Earlier, Anand Sharma who initiated the discussion, questioned the government on not appointing anti-graft ombudsman Lok Pal. Corruption has got encouragement at the cost of country's economy, he added.

Juxtaposing the BJP's campaign against the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government with regard issues like coal allocation in the name of corruption, he said in the present dispensation, people do not feel safe about their money in banks on account of the banking scams.

Charging the government with misusing investigating agencies against opposition members and shielding BJP Chief Ministers facing charges, he questioned it: "Can there be two systems in the country, one for the opposition and another for your own people."

Taking part in the discussion, Sharma's party colleague, Digvijay Singh referred to the reports of friction among top CBI officers.

The BJP benches, including Punjab BJP president Shwait Malik, countered Congress' charges  saying the its governments had been lenient towards corruption.