("INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION". It says it all. India has risen against corruption and there is a definite movement against the same and the end of the corruption is a bane in the Indian Society which is eating into the fabric of the Indian society is close at hand) so said a leading voice who is also one of the leading self professed pariah against corruption who had found his or her calling card suddenly one day).
Well it has been a while since I did a blog. So many things had happened in the mean while. Kerala for the first time in so many years has elected a wafer thin majority government who is now a hostage to demanding allies. But what I am dealing today is about the most happening thing in India today, "CORRUPTION".
You find a slogan against corruption just about anywhere these days, from malls to social networking sites. You have groups dedicated to the fight against corruption to experts who now authoritatively talk about ways to fight corruption. You have so called self professed sages who claim to fast until unrealistic demands which they claim will help in fighting and eradication of corruption from India in a day or two. Now never feel that I am for corruption or I am mocking the genuineness of these people. But the question I want to ask is weather there is any immediate solutions to this social menace? Well, in my humble view, that is beyond the wildest expectation. What is required is a prolonged battle to eradicate corruption from our society.
LOKPAL
The proposed Lokpal bill that is designed to be the nodal authority to fight corruption is in it's embryonic stage. This authority will be quasi judicial in nature and will hear and dispose off corruption related cases. Now there is serious differences as to how such an authority is to be crafted. When the government wants the PM's office and the higher Judiciary to be kept out of the purview of this agency, Team Hazare ( now claimed to be the representatives of the society) wants this authority to cover the whole gamut including PMO, Judiciary and even the conduct of MPs inside the parliament. But in my opinion, that cannot be allowed. Parliament is the highest constitutional body in India and is one of the three pillars of our country. If as claimed by Team Hazare the conduct of MP's inside the Parliament is brought under the purview of the Lokpal, it can be open to abuse as the Lokpal will become a supreme authority even over the Parliament and any scrupulous element can create question the same on flimsy grounds and in many ways put the death knell to our system of democracy.
Judiciary is expected to work as the custodian of our democracy and ensure that the other two pillars, Parliament and the Executive does not over step their constitutional mandate. But if the Lokpal bill brings the Judiciary under it's purview, then any decision that is taken by the Judges will and can be questioned by any party and such a mechanism if allowed strikes at the root of the Judicial independence.
MY SOLUTION
In my humble view, what is required is not a new system but enhancing the present systems to effectively deal with corruption. India now has effective laws like the "PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT" and also many provisions in the Indian Penal Code which if implemented effectively can ensure that corruption once and for all can be wiped out of our society. Parliament and Judiciary should have it's own mechanism say like a powerful committee who will act as check against those concerned.
REMEMBER THE BEGINNING CAN BE MADE BY US. NEXT TIME IF SOMEBODY ASKS YOU MONEY FOR ANY SERVICES, THEN SAY NO AND BRING THAT PERSON TO JUSTICE. IT IS NOT ANY BABA OR HAZARE WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT IS YOU AND ONLY YOU WHO CAN MAKE THE REAL DIFFERENCE. A SMALL STEP IN THIS DIRECTION TODAY WILL BE A GIANT STEP FOR OUR COUNTRY AND OUR SOCIETY TOMORROW IN OUR QUEST FOR ERADICATE THE BANE OF CORRUPTION ONCE AND FOR ALL FROM THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY
JAI HIND
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