Vittal moots vigilance corps to fight corruption

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 20. In a bid to enlist youth for the fight against corruption, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Mr. N. Vittal, has mooted the setting up of a National Vigilance Corps on the lines of the National Service Scheme.

Speaking toThe Hinduhere on Friday, he said the members would keep a tab on the Government offices and help vigilance officials lay traps for the corrupt officials. The corps would also probe why corruption flourished in a Government office and make suggestions to the CVC if and when modification of rules and procedures was necessary. The CVC would advice the department concerned appropriately. The youth would be guided by senior citizens. He would soon write to the Minister for Youth Affairs in this regard.

Mr. Vittal said he had already written to the Constitution Review Committee to incorporate in the statute the right of every citizen to get corruption-free service from any public office as a fundamental right.

A new procedure was being contemplated by which Government departments could take action against a corrupt official incriminated in a vigilance case irrespective of the proceedings in the court. ``There would be no question of double jeopardy because the court will look after the criminal aspect of the case while the department could examine the misconduct aspect,'' he said.

The CVC said there was no response from the Government to his recommendation that rules under the Benami Transactions Act of 1988 be enacted immediately. The Act provided for confiscation of benami property. The Law Commission had recommended in 1999 that the CVC should be empowered to confiscate ill-gotten wealth of corrupt officials through a Corrupt Public Servants (Forfeiture of Property) Act. But the recommendation still remained on paper.

Mr. Vittal said he preferred drastic measures like confiscation of property to check corruption. Corrupt officials were flush with money and could afford to engage the best lawyers and exploit the delay in the legal system to escape punishment. ``Now the question is whether the delay in judiciary could be used against the corrupt. Therefore, I suggest that the property of the accused be confiscated and credited into the Consolidated Fund of India till the case against the person concerned is settled,'' he said.

The CVC had also recommended to the Law Commission that a Whistle Blower's Act, on the lines of those in Britain, U.S and Australia, be enacted to protect Government officials who acted as informers regarding corruption in their departments. The act would also deter false informants.

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