Credibility of anti-corruption laws, systems in doubt: PM

Prime minister Manmohan Singh, whose government has been buffeted by charges of corruption, on Thursday admitted that there was a growing feeling that the country's laws, systems and procedures were not effective in dealing with corruption.

''We must recognise that there is little public tolerance now for the prevailing state of affairs,'' Singh told top civil servants at the sixth Civil Services day function in New Delhi. ''People expect swift and exemplary action and rightly so. As I have said earlier, corruption is an impediment to faster growth, and hurts the poor most. It is a challenge that we must tackle boldly and we stand committed to doing so.''

Singh was earlier this year forced by an aggressive opposition to sack his tainted telecommunications minister, A. Raja from southern ally DMK (now locked up at the Tihar jail in Delhi), following charges of a multi-billion-rupee scam involving the allocation of 2G spectrum to favoured companies. The United Progressive Alliance government, headed by the Congress, has also been forced in recent months to sack a chief minister in Maharashtra following irregularities in a housing project, and probe bribery allegations against its own MP, Suresh Kalmadi, following corruption charges in the hosting of the Commonwealth Games.

Several senior bureaucrats and ex-bureaucrats, besides top army generals have also been indicted for indulging in corrupt practices. ''I expect you to be honest and fearless in advising your superior authorities, especially the political leadership,'' Singh told his top bureaucrats. ''Those of you who serve in senior positions would do well to also encourage your subordinate officers in this direction.''

The prime minister said his government wants to strengthen the legislative framework, revamp administrative practices and procedures and fast track a systemic response to fighting corruption. A group of ministers was looking into the legal and administrative measures to be taken in this regard.

While not naming anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, who recently forced the UPA government to accept 'civil society' members as part of the committee to draft the Lokpal bill, Singh noted that a committee of ministers and representatives of civil society was at work to finalise the draft of the bill, which he hoped would be introduced during the monsoon session of parliament.

''Two bills relating to judicial accountability and protection of whistle blowers have already been introduced in parliament,'' pointed out Singh. ''We will soon ratify the United Nations Convention on Corruption.'' See: (For full text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's inaugural address on Civil Services Day)