All eyes on the Bill

Debate and vote on Lok Pal show that when Parliament is serious about law-making, citizens will respond.

The passage of the Lok Pal Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday night was a sign of Parliament reasserting its authority. The Bill’s fate in the Rajya Sabha is uncertain, but there were many points of note raised during the Lok Sabha debate by the members who spoke, some with great eloquence. The attention, therefore, was focused on the House. Even as the India Against Corruption rally at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai remained relatively sparsely attended, it became clear that, when Parliament shows itself ready and willing to take on its responsibilities, India’s citizens will recognise that intention. In essence, movements such as the one led by Anna Hazare gain and retain relevance only as long as Parliament, through inaction, renders itself irrelevant as the country’s highest forum for policy discussion. Those parliamentarians who warned against the anti-democratic ethos of the Hazare movement should recognise that the eventual solution to such upsurges is one only they themselves can provide, through sustained attention to their duty. Mr Hazare’s decision to call off his hunger strike a day ahead of schedule also indicates that popular support to such agitation wanes when parliamentarians take their job seriously.

The Lok Pal Bill, however, is not a perfect law. But it should be viewed as a serious first step towards arresting a perceived culture of impunity in administration. The anti-corruption system does retain serious flaws, hence further reform should be a priority. The functional independence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for example, is crucial for the speedy and unbiased investigation of complaints. While a transparent appointment of the CBI’s director by a panel that includes the leader of the Opposition is a welcome step, it will do little to remove the threat of interference by the government of the day. After all, if CBI officers have a short time at the agency, and will have to return to regular service under political bosses, the possibility for interference at a lower, operational level is still great. Reform must address this issue, perhaps through relooking at tenure for CBI officers, or reworking the cadre system.

The government, therefore, cannot afford to pause after the passage of the Bill if it wishes to tackle the issue of corruption. Whatever credit it could claim by arranging for the Bill’s passage has, in any case, been severely dented by another revelation of its incompetent floor management. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s own prized initiative, the amendment required to give the Lok Pal constitutional status, failed on the floor of the House because the United Progressive Alliance could not muster the required number of votes. It needs to seize the initiative again. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his speech to the Lok Sabha, outlined the case for reason and for institution-building over the angry emotion of the moment. His government needs to suit action to the word, by demonstrating that it is serious about bringing in reform that streamlines everyday governance and addresses lacunae in procurement policy, in the drafting and administration of contracts. Tuesday was a victory for the parliamentary system, and for democratic accountability, as Indians saw their representatives thoughtfully engage with the problems that have brought so many to the streets in 2011. The gains from that victory should not be allowed to dissipate.