Is the PM a silent spectator?

Prime minister Manmohan Singh had reportedly expressed reservations about the induction of some MPs from an alliance party in his cabinet as he wanted to make the government corruption free. But he failed.

If the PM is guided by the disputable principles of coalition governance, some corrupt ministers will become sacred cows. They can get   away with suspect dealings on behalf of the Union government and they can’t be questioned even by the investigating agencies.

The PM’s hands are tied and he is at best a silent spectator. But if there’s a problem there has to be a solution too. Instead of maintaining a status  quo on transparency  in governance, which breeds corrupt politicians, the PM should intervene and ask the law ministry to arrange for an urgent hearing of petitions challenging the NDA government’s restoration of the single-point directive that protects top bureaucrats and public servants from investigations. The directive was introduced  in 2003 to negate the Supreme Court (SC)’s judgment in a 1997 (hawala case).

The hawala judgment followed the revelations made by the NN Vohra committee alleging a nexus between bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and the media.

According to the judgment, the CBI cannot conduct an inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act without the Central Vigilance Commission’s approval against central government employees in the level of joint secretary and above and other officers of PSUs who are appointed by the government.

In 2003, NGOs such as Centre for Public Interest Litigation challenged this provision and since then the matter is awaiting the SC’s verdict. It’s worth recalling the top court’s judgment in 1997.

“It is clear that the accusation of possession of  disproportionate assets by a person is also based on direct evidence and no factor pertaining to the expertise of decision making is involved in it. The single directive cannot include within its ambit cases of possession of disproportionate assets,” the court said.