CORRUPTION AND THE LAW:-
AN INTRODUCTION: Corruption in Society is spreading like an epidemic which unless controlled is bound to affect each nook and corner of the Society. Corruption is interwoven with the way of life in day to day working. Those in power have left the hope of earning by honest means. It is rightly said that “ power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. There is a complete failure of the stem of checks and balances which the founding fathers had given in the democratic set-up. The laws of the day are inadequate to combat & cure the disease of corruption. People have hardly any remedies left to them unless the system enforces stringent penalties & strengths the monitoring plans against the violators.
POSITION IN INDIA: Social activist Anna Hazare sat on a fast as a crussador and savior for the cause of eradication of corruption in December 2011 for putting pressure on the Govt. of the day for passing of the long pending LOK PAL BILL . Unfortunately, the Bill could not see the light of the day due to Parliamentary procedural constraints. The Bill has been kept in abeyance for the time being. After all the political will is the foremost and frontrunner cause for the delay in passing of the Bill. The people should be equally armed with the “ Right to reject” if the elected representatives cannot deliver the goods and safeguard the public interest. Further delay in passing of the prestigious LOK PAL BILL will certainly reflect the vested interests of the politicians of the day.
As per Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index India was ranked 95th corruption Nation out of the 183 Countries surveyed. There is high incidence of bribing ( more than 75%) in cities like Ahemdabad, Chandigarh and Hyderabad and very low in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. The willingness to bribe is high in Delhi because of its being a “ Centre of opportunities”. Report has given India 3.3 points which is a cause of concern. Recently, as per the Report, India has been ranked at No. 19 with 7.5 points.
POSITION WORLD-WISE: As per Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Position of China is better as compared to neighboring countries namely India, Pakistan, Nepal. As per the Report, the Nation getting points below five are serious and a cause of concern. In the G-20 developed Countries, Australia and Switzerland have been placed at S.No. 8 whereas Newzealand occupies the top place. Amongst the South Asian Countries, Nepal has been shown to be the most corrupt Nation.
CONCLUSION: If the system of checks and balances as foreseen by the founding fathers are in place, corruption is on decline and people do not feel the need to bribe. Corruption and development are in opposition to each other. Corruption if permitted is making the system inefficient & inoperative. The 2G ruling of the Indian Supreme Court is an eye opener for controlling discretionary power by cancelling 122 licences in allotment of natural resources like radio frequencies to Telecommunication Companies in 2008. The Apex Court disapproved the concept of “ First come first serve basis “ of issuance of licences. This is noteworthy development in Indian policy making & has led to new transparency in policy-making. Courts can play the leading role in curbing corruption by keeping a watch on the way the discretion vested in the authorities are exercised. There is close link between corruption, unemployment and economic development which if guarded honestly can steer Country through to any heights. As per Indian Planning Commission estimates, if corruption declines , there will be 12% increase in annual investments & opening for new job opportunities as well as poverty will be eradicated. We ourselves, the SUPREME in the name of the “ People of India” are to blame for the outcome of the incurable disease of corruption. If India is to reach the top place among the corruption free Nations, it has to curb the 2G & Commonwealth Games Scams. Then inter linkage of the corrupts is to broken.