Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 16: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also Minister In-Charge DoPT, said here that while the Modi government follows the policy of zero tolerance against corruption, at the same time, there is adequate protection and safeguard for deserving officers who perform their duty with diligence and integrity.
Addressing a gathering over here, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Government is committed to carry forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mantra of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”. He said, the emphasis is on transparency, citizen-centricity and citizen-participation.
It was during the Modi government, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled, that the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1988 was amended after 30 years in 2018, to make the anti-corruption laws more effective, but at the same time also to ensure a work – friendly environment for such officials who show good performance and maintain high levels of integrity. While on the one hand, even the bribe-giver and the commercial concerns have now been made liable for legal action and prosecution, on the other hand, time-bound limit has been laid down for the disposal of corruption cases so that justice is not delayed, and at the same time, if the officer is found “not-guilty”, his harassment does not get unduly prolonged.
At the same time, Dr Jitendra Singh said, following the amendments made in the Prevention of Corruption Act by the Modi government in 2018, prior permission for prosecution of an official is to be required regardless of his status or the level at which he is working, whereas in the past, such permission was required only for the officers of the rank of Joint Secretary and above. Similarly, disposal of the corruption cases ordinarily within a period of two years will come as a huge relief to both sides, he added.
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