GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL,PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARREDQUESTION NO: 2051

ANSWERED ON: 05.12.2012

IMPACT OF CORRUPTION ON ADMINISTRATION 

(a) whether high level corruption in the country has adverse effects on the entire administrative functioning; 

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard;

  (c) whether several allegations of high level corruption in the country have come to light during the last three years; 

(d) if so, the details thereof; and 

(e) the steps taken by the Government to redress the image of the country due to the impact of corruption? 

ANSWER

(a): Corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets and erodes the quality of life. Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining Government’s ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice. Further, corruption is an impediment to faster growth. It not only dilutes but also negates our efforts at social inclusion and dents our international image. 

 (b): Corruption thrives where transparency is lacking, procedures are complicated, discretion of a high order is permitted and where there is a demand supply gap. Government is tackling these situations by encouraging greater transparency, introducing simplified procedures, reducing scope for discretion, etc.

  (c) & (d): As per information provided by the CBI, it has registered 109 cases [81 Regular Cases (RCs) and 28 Preliminary Enquiries (PEs)] against officials of the rank of Joint Secretary & above during the last 3 years. The corruption cases/PEs have been registered on the allegations of irregularities in award of contracts, Disproportionate Assets cases, Trap cases, Criminal Misconduct etc. Besides these cases, the CBI has several important cases involving allegations of high level corruption during last 3 years i.e 2009 to 2012 (up to 31.10.2012) such as :-

(i) 2G Cases (3 RCs & 1 PE) 

 (ii) CWG Cases ( 19 RCs & 10 PEs) 

 (iii) NRHM Cases (20 RCs & 5 PEs)   

(iv) Tatra Truck Case 

 (v) Coal Block Cases (9 RCs & 3 PEs) 

 (vi) Iron ore Cases (12 RCs)   

(vii) Adarsh Society Case etc.   

(e): The fight against corruption is an ongoing process and it is the endeavour of the Government to strengthen its anti-corruption laws and other mechanisms from time to time so as to ensure that the corrupt, irrespective of their status, are punished effectively and expeditiously. To strengthen the anticorruption mechanism, the Central Government has introduced a number of legislations in the Parliament in the recent past. Some of them are- 

(i) The Lokpal & Lokayuktas Bill, 2011; 

 (ii) The Whistle-blowers Protection Bill, 2011; 

 (iii) The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials and Officials of Public International Organizations Bill, 2011; and 

 (iv) The Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of the Grievances Bill, 2011; and 

 (v) The Public Procurement Bill, 2012.  Besides the legislation, necessary revamping of administrative practices and procedures are on fasttrack. The Government is fully alive and committed to implement its policy of “Zero Tolerance against Corruption” and has already taken several steps in the recent past to combat corruption and improve the functioning of Government. These include:- 

(i) Enactment of Right to Information Act, 2005;   

(ii) Issue of comprehensive instructions on transparency in tendering and contracting process by the CVC; 

 (iii) Issue of instructions by the CVC asking the organizations to adopt Integrity Pact in major Government procurement activities; State Governments have also been advised to adopt Integrity Pact in major procurements;   

(iv) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedures and systems; 

 (v) Issue of Citizen Charters; 

 (vi) Ratification of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2011;

   (vii) Placing of details of immovable property returns of all Members of the All India Services and other Group ‘A’ officers of the Central Government in the public domain; 

 (viii) Introduction of the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, 2010 in the Parliament (passed by the Lok Sabha on 29.3.2012); and 

(ix) Setting up of 71 additional Special Courts exclusively for trial of CBI cases in different states. (66 Courts have already started functioning).