The Government is keen on the passage of three crucial anti-corruption Bills Whistleblowers’ Protection, amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act and lokpal in the upcoming session of Parliament commencing on November 26.
Minister of State 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 Prevention of Corruption Act for seven days in Rajya Sabha during the last session, but it could not be taken up.
“We are determined to push forward these Bills once again in the forthcoming session of Parliament beginning 26th November. Similarly, in case of lokpal Bill, we hope that the Standing Committee will soon send its report so that the process can be carried forward,” he said.
Through amendment in Prevention of Corruption Act, the Government wants to introduce safeguards for officials at all levels. “We will act but act judiciously,” he said.
While fighting corruption, the Government intends that it does not cause “unwarranted intimidation” of officials, the Minister emphasised.
Speaking at the valedictory function of 21st annual conference of CBI and Anti-Corruption Bureaux here, Singh said the Centre 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.
The Minister also stressed that the Government is committed to maintain independence and autonomy of CBI to ensure that an environment can be provided to the agency where it can work with its full potential.
Singh said the Government will provide an environment which enables the officials of CBI and other intelligence bureaus to discharge their duty with absolute professionalism and to the best of their ability and potential.
Singh said, as the war against corruption, crime and terror assumes diverse proportions, the strategies and skills to be applied by the intelligence officials also call for constant update to meet the new challenges.