One of our fluttering correspondants over Ramlila maidan, Delhi, couldnt stay too far from the action. Because he was a low grade,less informed kabootar he sent out an SOS to the the Nest(filmy kabootar HQ) claiming a reality show was on in full swing in Delhi. It was only a veteran kabootar's intervention that helped us get to the bottom of this mass scale event.
Honestly I cant tell the difference, Uprooting corruption is a necessity and Anna's original intention with the lokpal gets a 2 wing salute from our fraternity but because we are the only secular, democratic, metropolitan, unbiased beings here's our debate:
1. To establish a central government anti-corruption institution called Lokpal, supported by Lokayukta at the state level.
2. As in the case of the Supreme Court and Cabinet Secretariat, the Lokpal will be supervised by the Cabinet Secretary and the Election Commission. As a result, it will be completely independent of the government and free from ministerial influence in its investigations.
As a democracy We the citizen morons select fellow wealthy morons to govern us. Elections as always will always be selecting the lesser of two or more evils, Shouldn’t the lokpal be mandating Serious parameters for those who wish to contest elections. Sadly everyone flows with the media showcased propaganda and everyones out on the streets. With Due respect to the deceased the loss of close to 300 lives in 26/11 had hoards of people walking out for candle Light vigils and Peace marches all over. Where were these candle light vigils and Peace protests when women and children were massacred in Gujarat??? And the architect of annihilation (and I Do not make this statement in randomness. Feel free to Youtube seach any issue pertaining this for personal gratification) stands chief minister today basking in the glory of development. WOW! Did anyone say Sau chuhe maarke billi Haj ko Chali.
The candle light protests and peace Marches managed to get Manu Sharma, the murderer of Jessica Lall behind bars. BRAVO! Nothing followed to monitor the number of times Manu Sharma was out on parole Justice done??? Maybe or May not be. The point here is the judiciary must be empowered to tighten measures to overcome the loopholes that are easily manipulated.
Now if the Lokpal is to be followed Im not too sure lokpal will allow tackling issues like these cause ultimately people too are as naïve as their emotions, with a pinch of salt they allow things to happen and sink into a make belief world of righteousness. It is the Judiciary that must be empowered people can be as stupid as their fantasies and it is here that we will let it happen. The law of the land must be imposed with an Iron Fist and methods to speed up the process of bringing justice amended and upgraded. Matters of the judiciary in the hands of the lokpal which would only be accountable to the cabinet secretary and Election Commission might be catastrophic.
3. Members will be appointed by judges, Indian Administrative Service officers with a clean record, private citizens and constitutional authorities through a transparent and participatory process.
4. A selection committee will invite shortlisted candidates for interviews, video recordings of which will thereafter be made public.
Getting elected to the Lokpal committee would then be adding another competitive exam on the lines of UPSC and MPSC. Instead if the Election Commission and the Supreme Court can Mandate the pre-requisites for an individual wanting to contest and election we could actually be talking sense. Lets face it corruption at an officer level hurts lesser than at a ministry level. The point about video recording interviews and releasing it later is simply adding a reality show element to the Lokpal.
5. Every month on its website, the Lokayukta will publish a list of cases dealt with, brief details of each, their outcome and any action taken or proposed. It will also publish lists of all cases received by the Lokayukta during the previous month, cases dealt with and those which are pending.
Is the Lokayukta trying to be a parallel legal system or a mere middleman? Justice is delayed, denied because people wont come out and present evidence like it should be, If the Lokpal can enforce the witness protection program and other provisions already in place then we might have something in place
6. Investigations of each case must be completed in one year. Any resulting trials should be concluded in the following year, giving a total maximum process time of two years.
No comments
7. Losses caused to the government by a corrupt individual will be recovered at the time of conviction.
Here is the problem. Getting them convicted, The law is twisted and the accused get away with less intensive charges. The individual might land up paying just a fraction of the total amount in propotion to the degree of offense he is proven guilty for.
8. Government office work required by a citizen that is not completed within a prescribed time period will result in Lokpal imposing financial penalties on those responsible, which will then be given as compensation to the complainant.
9. Complaints against any officer of Lokpal will be investigated and completed within a month and, if found to be substantive, will result in the officer being dismissed within two months.
10. The existing anti-corruption agencies (CVC, departmental vigilance and the anti-corruption branch of the CBI) will be merged into Lokpal which will have complete power and authority to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
11. Whistleblowers who alert the agency to potential corruption cases will also be provided with protection by it.
Another critical flaw of the system would be granting autonomy to the committee to an extent that allows the Lokpal Committee to question and overpower the prime minister. Dude seriously??? Our Prime ministers have been more or less good. it is usually the lower grade land grabbing politicians who are wiping their ass with the countries flag.
