Govt keen on passing three anti-graft Bills this session

The government is keen on getting three crucial anti-corruption bills – Whistleblowers’ Protection, amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act and Lokpal – passed in the upcoming session of Parliament starting November 26.

MoS for Personnel Jitendra Singh on Thursday said while the Lokpal Bill is pending with the Select Committee, the government had consecutively listed the bill for amendment in the Prevention of Corruption Act for seven days in the Rajya Sabha during the last session, but it could not be taken up.

“I will not go into the reasons of it but what I am trying to say is that we have not lagged behind. We have nothing to hide...and we will pursue these bills in the coming session on November 26,” Singh said.

The Minister said while fighting corruption, the government intends that it does not cause “unwarranted intimidation” of officials. He said through amendment in the Prevention of Corruption Act, government aims at introducing safeguards for officials at all levels. “We will act but judiciously,” he said. 

Singh said the government aims to complete the CCTNS by March 2017, which was initiated in 2009, but not much headway was made during the last six years for whatever reasons. 

“What had not happened in last six years, government had resolved to do it in one and a half years," he said.