Anti-corruption bill: Centre proposes ‘shield’ for central govt employees’ in new draft

The minister argued this bill was prepared to ensure that bureaucrats can continue to work without any “fear or favour”.
Anti-corruption bill: Centre proposes ‘shield’ for central govt employees’ in new draft
Anti-corruption bill: Centre proposes ‘shield’ for central govt employees’ in new draft
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The Union government on Thursday approved the draft anti-corruption amendment bill, which may give central government employees a shield from prosecution in connection with corruption charges. 

MoS for Personnel Jitendra Singh said that according to the draft, investigation agencies like the CBI have to take prior approval from the government before investigating any central government employee, reported PTI.  

"We have decided to introduce the anti-corruption amendment bill in the upcoming session of the Parliament. A provision for providing safeguard to all categories of government employees is being offered there. The changes are to ensure that honest employees are not harassed," said Singh.

The minister argued this bill was prepared to ensure that bureaucrats can continue to work without any “fear or favour”.

The approval of the centre came after a Parliamentary Committee examining changes in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in August suggested that an investigating agency needs to take the prior approval from a competent authority to probe a government employee. 

The panel, however, said a prior approval won’t be necessary in a case of "arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to accept any undue advantage for himself or for any other person".

The bill which was introduced in August 2013 during the erstwhile UPA regime was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. The committee had submitted its report in February 2014 but it could not be passed then.

In April 2015, the cabinet gave its approval to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act with amendment bill. Following this, the proposed changes were sent to the Select Committee for examination and came with its report in December 2015. 

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