Union ministers may lose discretionary power

Stung by a series of scams, the government has asked the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption to consider steps like scrapping of discretionary powers of ministers and the need for a probe agency to seek the nod of government before starting an inquiry against a senior official.

The seven-point terms of reference of the GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also include fast-tracking of all cases of public servants accused of corruption and ensuring full transparency in public procurement and contracts, including enunciation of public procurement standards and a public procurement policy.

The terms of reference are on the lines of the five-point plan outlined by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the AICC Plenary here last month to fight corruption.

State-funding of elections, introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources and amendment to Article 311 of the Constitution to provide for summary proceedings in case of grave misdemeanor or blatant corruption by public servants are the other terms of reference of the GoM, set up on January 6.

The GoM, which will also suggest administrative action to tackle corruption and improve transparency, has been asked to give its recommendations within 60 days. According to the terms of reference, the GoM will “consider and advise” on “consideration of relevance/ need for Section 6(A) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.”

The Section 6(A) says an inquiry against a government employee of the level of Joint Secretary and above shall not be conducted into any offence alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, “except with the previous approval of the Central government”.

Relinquishing discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers at the Centre is another key term of reference of the eight-member GoM which has P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, M Veerappa Moily, Kapil Sibal, Mamata Banerjee and M K Alagiri.