Raising their pitch on the Lokpal Bill, the Anna Hazare team today alleged the government version of the ombudsman was not aimed at fighting corruption but to target those who complain against the menace.
The Hazare team felt the exclusion of a large chunk of the bureaucracy from the ambit of Lokpal was not proper. They have also questioned the provision to hear corrupt officials first before filing a case and chargesheet against them.
They wondered how most public servants can be left out of the Lokpal's purview while bringing NGOs even at village level within its ambit. They expressed apprehension that Lokpal would be able to haul up activists from any of the organisations representing farmers, labourers and tribals or movements related to anti-corruption, land and other issues.
“Rather than gunning for the corrupt and corruption, the government's Lokpal seems to be gunning for those who complain against corruption,” the statement said.
It said the government argued the Lokpal would get overwhelmed with too many cases if all public servants – 40 lakh central and 80 lakh state government officials – were brought under its ambit. The figure has been restricted to around 65,000 officers above the rank of joint secretary.
“In sharp contrast, all NGOs are covered under the government's Lokpal, small or big, whether in state or at the Centre.
“So, in a remote village, if a group of youngsters detect corruption in panchayat works using RTI, the youngsters can be hauled up by Lokpal but Lokpal would not have jurisdiction over the sarpanch, BDO or their corruption,” it said.
Citing an example, it said, the Lokpal would not have jurisdiction over Delhi government officials, but it would have jurisdiction over all RWAs in the Capital. “All small neighbourhood groups who raise donations to do Ramlila or Durga Puja would be under Lokpal's scanner,” it said.
“No one can dispute the fact that corruption in NGOs needs to be addressed. But how can you leave most public servants out of the Lokpal's purview but bring NGOs upto village level within its purview?” the Hazare team said.
The statement said before investigations actually start, the government servant can file a cross complaint against the citizen straight to the special court, without any preliminary inquiry by any agency. He can say the complaint is false or frivolous.
“The government will provide free advocate to the government servant to file this case. The citizen will have to defend himself on his own. Then there is stiffer punishment for the complainant than the corrupt government servant.
-Indian Express
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