HC seeks info on pending prosecution proposals in graft cases

The Bombay High Court today directed Maharashtra government to submit details regarding files pending for according sanction to prosecute government officials and public servants accused of corruption.
A division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Prakash Sheth seeking direction to the government to decide on proposals for sanction to prosecute public servants within a short-time frame.
According to the petition, authorities abuse the lacunae in the Prevention of Corruption Act which makes it mandatory to obtain a prior sanction from appropriate authority to prosecute government officials accused of corruption.

"The Supreme Court had recently passed an order that sanction proposals have to be decided within three months. This order should be implemented so that corrupt officials and public servants do not benefit," the petition claims.
The High Court today directed the government to submit details of all those proposals pending for sanction till February 2013. The matter has been posted for hearing on March 8.
The petition has sought for a high-powered committee to be set up to inquire against authorities who have kept in abeyance proposals seeking sanction to prosecute.