Bureaucratic and Political Corruption
The Nexus between Corrupt Politicians and Bureaucrats: A Threat to National Integrity and Safety
by Sanjay Pathania*, Dr. Lal Krishan Sharma,
- Published in Journal of Advances and Scholarly Researches in Allied Education, E-ISSN: 2230-7540
Volume 14, Issue No. 1, Oct 2017, Pages 931 - 933 (3)
Published by: Ignited Minds Journals
ABSTRACT
Today, corruption has become the root-cause of danger for the integrity and safety of the nation. It may be seen in the recent encounter with terrorists in the Mumbai where three brave and intelligent police officers were shot dead by the terrorists. Report says that purchasing of Bullet Proof Jackets has the smell of corruption. Indeed it is the peak point of the corruption. Our past also has the long list of big scams, it started with Jeep scam in Nehru regime and now continue with all kinds of corruption in every field of the government. There is hardly left any department or state government which did not indulge in malfunctioning or corruption in the country, the amount kept in the Swiss Bank is giving the full proof of the corruption. Corruption starts at top in the political community and it patronizes the administration. In India there is a deep rooted nexus between the corrupt politicians and the corrupt bureaucrats. Politicians appoint the bureaucrats as per their self-interests not for the requirement of administration or developmental activities. We have had many cases in which bureaucrats with well-publicized reputation for corruption were appointed to topmost posts super ceding other honest officers. There have also been cases in which politicians and bureaucrats have been charged together in corruption cases.(1) After this, it bears others factors for generating the corruption like lack of transparency and accountability inadequate people participation frequent transfers of the civil servants nepotism and favouritism in the appointments of the top posts especially in the states low remuneration, facilities and over workload of the officials absence of e-governance, unawareness of RTI Act inadequate status of CVC and malfunctioning of SPSCs.
KEYWORD
corruption, bureaucratic, political corruption, danger, integrity, safety, nation, bullet-proof jackets, big scams, Swiss Bank, political community, corrupt politicians, corrupt bureaucrats, transparency, accountability, people participation, civil servants, nepotism, favouritism, appointments, low remuneration, overworkload, e-governance, RTI Act, CVC, SPSCs
against all norms of public life. Instead of frittering away money in self-gratifying ways, the leaders should mobilize support and resources for the development of their constituencies. In this regard former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri has set an example, during his tenure Kerla was suffering from a serious shortage of rice. The government was trying its best to make up for the shortfall and the difficulty it faced during that period is well known. Rice is the staple diet of the keratitis and its shortage caused pain to Shstriji. He took a vow that he would not allow anyone in Kerla to go hungry for want of rice. This concern of his had its effect in his kitchen. Before issuing any appeal, he told the family, we will not eat rice till the needs of all Kerlalities are fulfilled.[10] (7) The government ought to examine genuine and need-based judicial reforms rather than tinkering with plans that would compromise judicial independence---the touchstone of the constitution. The late Nani A. Palkhiwala, who was a crusader for judicial independence, aptly said, "An independent judiciary is the very heart of a Republic. The foundation of a democracy, the source of its perennial vitality, the condition for its growth, and the hope for its welfare--all lie in an independent judiciary".[11] (8) 170th Report on Electoral Reforms to the government has recommended that if charges have been framed (which the possible punishment is two years or more of imprisonment).against a person who is willing to contest election must be disqualify for five years from contesting any election.[12] Corruption is crossing all limits, therefore, there is a need to take some more concrete steps. Firstly the Ombudsman (Lok Ayukats in all States with specific powers) has to be appointed to check corruption among politicians than we can take other steps like recall system; constitutional status of the CVC; awareness of RTI Act among the people; developing ethics and enriching administrative culture among the civil servants; fixing tenure of the civil servants in their postings; banning candidates with criminal background in the politics; ethical training for both politicians and civil servants; redesigned the procedure of the appointment of the members of SPSCs; introduction of e-governance compulsorily starting from police department and local government; special check on the expenditure of the Lok Sabha, State Assembly and local government elections; auditing funds of political parties; and enhanced autonomy for Election Commission of India. (1) Subrahmanyam, K. (2009) "In the arms Bazar", The Tribune, February, 7, p.12. (2) Dr. Sarbjit (2008). State Institutions losing Credibility, The Tribune, p.11. (3) The Tribune, January, 10, 2009, p.10. (4) Rao, P. P. (2009). "Public service Commission, Look for the Persons of Merit and Integrity", The Tribune, p.8 (5) Dua, H. K. (2008). "India: Bold, Beautiful and the Ugly", The Tribune, p.1. (6) The Tribune, November, 3, 2008, p.10. (7) Parkash., P. (2009). "Oh, for a Leader and some Governance", The Tribune, p.13. (8) Rao, Op., cit. (9) Chhokar, Op., cit. (10) S. Sunil (2008). "Shastri: A True Karmayogi", The Tribune, p.11. (11) Anand, V. E., Op., cit. (12) Chhokar, Op., cit.
Corresponding Author Sanjay Pathania*
Research Scholar, PhD (Public Administration) Jayoti Vidyapeeth Womenâs University, Jaipur