Even as it welcomed the proposed amendments to the Lokayukta Act to cover more and more people’s representatives and public sector employees, the Lok Satta Party said on Wednesday that corruption could not be eradicated so long as the Lokayukta remained toothless.
Lok Satta Party working president DVVS Varma recalled the Second Administrative Reforms Commission’s observation that failure to tackle corruption at the top level led to its becoming rampant. So, mere extension of the Lokayukta’s jurisdiction to more and more people would not solve the problem. Moreover, the Lokayukta in Andhra Pradesh, unlike its counterpart in Karnataka, does not have powers to raid the corrupt and take action.
Mr Varma said the Lokayukta should be strengthened with enough powers, resources and personnel. The Anti Corruption Bureau and the Vigilance Department should be brought under the control of the Lokayukta.
Mr Varma also demanded that the Prevention of Corruption Act be amended on the lines of the draft Bill proposed by Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan in 2009.
The Bill envisages bringing of all elected people’s representatives like MLAs under the purview of the Anti Corruption Bureau, constitution of special courts in all districts to pursue corruption cases, attachment of properties of the guilty, and bringing in all anti corruption institutions like the ACB, Vigilance Department and administrative tribunals under the purview of the Lokayukta.
Mr Varma appealed to all parties fulminating against corruption to transcend their political differences and join hands in getting the Prevention of Corruption Act amended.