Loksatta hails SC ruling on prosecution of senior officers

The Loksatta Party today welcomed the Supreme court judgement which quashed section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, saying the verdict will go a long way in treating all public servants equally.
The section mandates the CBI to take prior sanction of government before investigating an officer of the rank of joint secretary and above in corruption cases.
Loksatta national President Dr Jayaprakash Narayan said his party had been since long demanding the repeal of the "patently unconstitutional section".
He said the party in a presentation made to a Parliamentary Committee on amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act recently reiterated its position.

"Now that the section has been quashed, the CBI is free to investigate cases of corruption against any functionary without prior consent of government. This blow in favour of the rule of law will ensure that all public servants are treated alike," he said.
Narayan said section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 197 of the CrPc which mandates prior government sanction for proceeding against corrupt government officials should also be amended.
"These sections have been routinely abused by successive governments to shield corrupt officials. Such a power, if needed, should be transferred to the Lokpal/Central Vigilance Commission at the national level and the Lokayukta at the state level," Narayan said.