EXPEDITING CORRUPTION
CASES
The Minister of State
for Law, Justice, Coal and Mines, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has
called for a synergy between the investigation, prosecution and
judiciary to expedite corruption cases in the country. Inaugurating
a two-day National Training Seminar on Corruption Cases: Problems
of Investigation and Trials, organized jointly by National Institute
of Criminology and Forensic Science and Central Bureau of Investigation
here today, the Minister said that there was need to reduce delay
in investigation of criminal cases especially relating to corruption
and greater well coordinated approach to the conclusion of investigation
and trial.
Talking of measures
to end corruption the Minister said that three areas, such as,
preventive, curative and punitive had to be addressed meaningfully
in this regard. The Minister gave an outline of various steps
taken by the Government so far in curbing corruption including
electoral reforms, dispensing with unbridled discretion in the
Government which bred corruption and evolving transparency and
openness in the system.
Shri Ravi Shankar
Prasad suggested use of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in corruption
cases involving genuine public interest, prioritization of gross
cases of corruption, avoiding fresh inquiry while seeking sanction
from the Government for prosecution of various corruption cases
at political and higher bureaucratic level, equipping investigation
with modern tools and training of judges to understand the ramifications
of corruption cases for a better, effective and time bound judgements
in order to repose public faith in the efficacy of the criminal
justice system.
The Minister
was happy to note that a vigilant media, use of PIL and growing
openness in the Government have evolved a system to put damper
on gross misuse of power. It was in this context that fictional
distinction between bribe given and bribe taken had to be curbed,
the Minister added. He had also a word of advice for media to
eschew trial by media of corruption cases and let the investigation
be conducted unhampered. He said that probity and accountability
should become part of our culture.
Earlier, the
Director of National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science,
Shri Kamal Kumar, in his welcome address, gave an overview of
the problem of delays in investigation and trials and what needed
to be done.
The Director
of CBI, Shri P.C. Sharma called for fighting the menace of corruption
and making the criminal justice system more efficient. He also
underscored honest, fair and truthful investigation in our legal
system. He said that there were illustrious examples to follow,
just as there were bad and identified practices to be discarded.
The Secretary,
Department of Personnel and Training, Shri A.K. Aggarwal said
that in an unprecedented conference like this wherein investigators,
prosecutors and judges were on a common platform, the Government
expected fruitful action plan for providing integrated coordinated
approach between the three wings of the criminal justice system.
The Central Vigilance
Commissioner, Shri P. Shankar gave his doe’s and don’ts about
the investigation of corruption cases and urged all concerned
to complete investigation quickly to end corruption.
In the Seminar,
about 150 delegates representing judiciary, investigators, prosecutors
and forensic scientists were taking parts.
