Panel seeks suggestion on bill to amend anti-graft act

A Parliamentary Committee has sought suggestions from public on a bill aimed at punishing bribe givers and confiscating properties of corrupt public servants among other measures.
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on August 19 and referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice on August 23 for examination and to submit a report within three months.
In the public notice issued yesterday, the parliamentary panel has asked individuals and organisations to send their memoranda giving suggestions or recommending changes.
The bill seeks to amend the Act to include the offence of passive bribery, its various aspects including solicitation and acceptance of bribe through intermediaries (private persons).

It intends to prosecute the bribe givers in the offence of consensual bribery. At present, no domestic law has provision to punish a bribe giver.
The bill also proposes to provide punishment for the offence relating to bribe given to a public servant by a commercial organisation and forfeiture of property of a corrupt public servant.
However, prior sanction of competent authority is proposed to safeguard the public servants from the vexatious prosecution after their retirement or remittance of office in the bona fide omission or commission in the discharge of their official duty.