Discuss the importance of Probity in Governance. This is the first installment. More will follow.
1.Probity in governance is an essential and vital requirement for an efficient and effective system of governance and for socio-economic development. An important requisite for ensuring probity in governance is absence of corruption. How does control of corruption ensure probity?
A.Corruption is an abuse of public resources or position in public life for private gain. How does collaboration between the Political class and the administrators promote corruption. Can you cite cases? (2G Specturm case, denotification cases in Karnataka, Shakti Durga case)
B. How can public opinion and the Press reduce corruption? Illustrate the role of the Face Book and the TV in this regard.
C. In spite of a vigilant press and public opinion, the level of corruption is exceptionally high. Is the political class concerned at all? Are the administrators any better? Illustrate with reference to coalition problems, KPSC corruption etc.,
D. Has the increase of opportunities in State intervention in economic and social life influenced corruption? Illustrate with reference to defence purchases.
E. Politics has also become professionalized. There are political families. And they gang up when they are attacked.
F. Has the RTI helped reduce corruption? Discuss with reference to political parties.
G. India is rated at 94 out of 176 countries in the corruption perception index prepared by a non-governmental organisation, Transparency International. There seems to be a nexus between terrorism, drugs, smuggling, and politicians, a fact which was emphasized in the Vohra Committee Report. Discuss
2.What has been the role of the Judiciary in regard to ensuring an end to corruption? What did Justice Verma feel about it?
3. The Scandinavian economist-sociologist, Gunnyar Myrdal, had described the Indian society as a ‘soft society’. In what sense is India a soft society? Contrast Singapore with India. Can you convict a million dollars in the USA?
3.Corruption is also anti-poor. True. But how do you explain several BPL card holders selling rice to the hoteliers for profit?
4. The other requirements are effective laws, rules and regulations governing every aspect of public life and, more important, an effective and fair implementation of those laws, etc. How does this help?
A. Ensures discipline in government and public life. Without discipline, as the Scandinavian economist- sociologist, Gunnyar Myrdal, has pointed out, no real progress is possible Elaborate
B. Promotes both public and private morality and a sense of honesty. Contrast the attitudes of people in the West with those in India
c. Can laws alone ensure discipline and morality? What is the role of leaders, the family and educational institutions in this respect?
5. First, corruption in South Asia occurs up-stream, not down-stream.
Second, corruption money in South Asia has wings, not wheels.
Third, corruption in South Asia often leads to promotion, not prison.
Fourth corruption in South Asia is political dynamite. What have been the signs?
6. In Vineet Narain vs. Union of India (AIR 1998 SC 889) the SC wanted statutory status for the Central Vigilance Commission and to insulate the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate from political control and pressures. How far have these been done?
7.Lord Nolan listed The Seven Principles of Public Life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, Leadership. How far are these present today? What should be done about them?
To be continued in the second blog on this topic. Please quote the point number on which you are making a comment.
1. Probity essentially means Adhering to a code of ethics based on undeviating honesty. Probity includes integrity, decency, honesty in word and deed, selflessness and accountability.Corruption can be defined as “the abuse of public office for private gain”. Corruption flourishes loosely in following two scenarios:1) when control on the public administrators is fragile .2) the division of power between political, executive and bureaucracy is ambiguous.Recent case of missing 157 Coal block allocation files from 1993 to 2006 given the fact that honorable prime minister was head of coal ministry from 2003-2006shows utter lack of discipline, accountability and disrespect of law machinery. Most of the coal mines are still not in working condition as owners are waiting for better price from future prospects.Opportunists in administration take advantage of loop holes and even after being charge sheeted the chances of being prosecuting are abysmally low. To take out the perks by way of controlling corruption by1) drawing up code of conduct
1. A. Most recent case is Robert Vadra Land deals exposed by Ashok Khemka.Participants in the crooked deal are:1) Harayana government for falsely indicting Senior officer for outreaching his authority while probing the deal.2)Haryana’s Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for creating false records for purchasing of land and not authenticating the bank accounts of parties as such.Breach of trust and lack of probity can be attributed to such sham transactions with little hopethat anyone will dare touch the most powerful political family of the country given the fact thatpromotions of such personnel are directly handelled by home ministry barring anyone to have the courage to even point apparent and obvious irregularities.Corruption and sycophantic attitude is deep rooted in bureucracy and is a norm widely acknowledged and practised shamelessly.
Probity essentially means Adherring to a code of ethics based on undeviating honesty. Probity includes integrity, decency, honesty in word and deed, selflessness and accountability.
Corruption can be defined as “the abuse of public office for private gain”. Corruption flourishes loosely in following two scenarios:
1)when control on the public administrators is fragile .
2)the division of power between political, executive and bureaucracy is ambiguous.
Recent case of missing 157 Coal block allocation files from 1993 to 2006 given the fact that honorable prime minister was head of coal ministry from 2003-2006 shows utter lack of discipline, accountability and disrespect of law machinery.Most of the coal mines are still not in working condition as owners are waiting for better price from future prospects.
Oppurtunists in administration take advantage of loop holes and even after being chargesheeted the chances of being prosecuting are absymally low.To take out the perks by way of controlling corruption by
1) drawing up code of conduct
2)setting up independent scrutiny mechanism
will surely act as a detterent to executive, bureaucrats and politicians to act in an dishonest for financial gains.
1. A. Most recent case is Robert Vadra Land deals exposed by Ashok Khemka.
Participants in the crooked are:
1) Harayana government for falsely indicting Senior officer for outreaching his authority while probing the deal.
2)Haryana’s Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for creating false records for purchasing of land and not authenticating the bank accounts of parties as such.
Breach of trust and lack of probity can be attributed to such sham transactions with little hope
that anyone will dare touch the most powerful political family of the country given the fact that
promotions of such personnel are directly handelled by home ministry barring anyone to have the courage to even point apparent and obvious irregularities.
Corruption and sycophantic attitude is deep rooted in bureucracy and is a norm widely acknowledged and practised shamelessly.