Lokpal Bill

THE LOKPAL BILL AND WHETHER IT WILL HELP THE COMMON MAN

The Lokpal Bill in some form or other will become law and every state in the country will have a Lokayukta appointed. Corruption at all levels of governance will be under the scanner and every wrong move made will be checked. Will all this help the common man? Is the common man really bothered whether the Prime Minister or the members of the higher judiciary are under the ambit of the Lokpal? What exactly is the common man really looking for? Let us review the needs of the common man – domicile or residence certificate, obtaining passport/PAN card, opening bank accounts in public sector bank (for high safety), registration in an employment exchange, obtaining employment (we will presume here that every common man aspires for a government job), Income Tax returns, joining a pension fund, insurance policies, registration of marriage, ration card, registration of the birth of children, domicile/residence certificate for children, admission of children in government colleges, construction of a house (requiring all the necessary approvals), electricity connection, water connection, approach road to his house, registration of the house, insurance of property, registration of vehicle(s), registration of his children in employment exchanges, obtaining employment for his children and finally, death certificate.

This list may not be complete, however, it can be seen that the common man deals extensively with the so called lower bureaucracy of the government directly or indirectly. And this is the area where existence of corrupt practices hits the common man the most and this is the area that needs to be policed much more. One may say that if the higher officials are honest, the lower officials will not indulge in corrupt practices, however, this is not the case. Let us take the police as an example: even if the officer is honest, it is believed that his share of hafta is taken by those of the lower level constabulary without any qualms.

In such a situation how does one deal with the lower bureaucracy – lodge a complaint, go for an RTI inquiry or lodge a PIL? None of them are viable options because of the amount of effort & time involved in dealing with such procedures. How many will dare to do so and at what cost to themselves? If someone is not getting his approval for construction of a house (in the stipulated time – does anyone know the stipulated times for various jobs in government offices?), lodging a complaint will only result in more waiting and expense.

It is therefore, essential that the lower bureaucracy is brought under the ambit of an independent tribunal or court or Lokayukta. This is where the Lokpal Bill comes in! The Bill and consequently, the Law, has to be comprehensive and recommend changes to the various related Acts, Ordinances, IPC/CrPC, CVC, Departmental Vigilance Cells, etc. The movement of Anna Hazare is only the first of many steps required to be taken. The incumbent government needs to move fast to stem the rot in its own house and clean up the governance as well as administration of the nation.

The acceptance of the need to give bribes has been ingrained in our society and thinking for centuries and once the Government makes its moves in the right direction, then, every citizen will have to make his/her contribution towards a clean government, governance, administration, society and inculcate the same in the future generations of this great nation of ours.

By Kali