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| Welcome Address by the Director, CBI, Shri Vijay Shanker at the 16th Biennial Conference of CBI and State Anti Corruption Bureaux / Vigilance Bureaux - 2006 at Vigyan
Bhavan, New Delhi on November 17, 2006 |
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singhji, Hon'ble Minister of State for Personnel, Training and Parliamentary Affairs, National Security Adviser, Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Central Vigilance Commissioner, Secretary (Personnel), Distinguished delegates to the Conference, friends from the media, Ladies and Gentlemen.
2. It is my proud privilege to welcome the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singhji. Everyone gathered here joins me in welcoming you, Sir. We are grateful to you for your kind consent to address this Conference yet again. Your confidence in our professionalism has been an incessant source of inspiration and strength for us. We remain solemnly resolved. Sir, to ensure complete transparency, impartiality and highest standards of professionalism and personal conduct in all our endeavours in order to come up to that confidence.
3. Yesterday, we had the distinct honour to have His Excellency, the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to inaugurate this Conference. We are greatly inspired by his missionary zeal for a corruption-free India. The presence of two of the most respected leaders of our country in our midst during this conference has not only given a unique and rare honour to this forum but also highlighted the importance attached by them to the emergent need of containing corruption. I am sure that the professionals of ACBs and CBI gathered here will be immensely benefited by this unique encouragement and guidance.
4. Sir, this Conference, which CBI hosts once in two years, provides an opportunity to the entire anti-corruption community of the country to share knowledge and experiences on issues relevant for tackling corruption. Besides, discussions on some very useful suggestions and Agenda issues sent by various State ACBs, detailed presentations and discussions on issues of topical relevance such as UN Convention Against Corruption, Need for Autonomy & Standardisation of State ACBs, Preventive Vigilance, Adoption of Technology in Investigation, Problems and Solutions for professional difficulties faced by anti corruption agencies have been included. However, the primary emphasis remains on knowledge and experience sharing and evolution of practical methods for effectively tackling the menace of corruption.
5. Lack of transparency and accountability in governance, gradual erosion of ethical and moral values in the society and 'Scarcity of services' have been cited as some of the factors, which encourage corruption. Most of these factors continue to operate in our country. India's weak judicial processes have been a significant contributory factor for ever-growing corruption. Judicial process is marred by long delays and poor conviction rates. We complete investigations in over 90% of our cases within a year or two. But it takes the courts ten, fifteen or even over twenty years to complete the trials. More than 6,000 anti-corruption cases chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation are pending in courts. Fast track disposal of trials of Disproportionate Assets, Traps and other anti-corruption cases is called for. For this purpose, it is highly desirable that adequate number of Special Courts are set up to deal exclusively with anti-corruption cases. The Central Government is financing setting up of such courts in the States but much more needs to be done.
6. Many a complainants are deterred by the harassment, delays and unending procedural trials following a complaint. The fight against corruption needs to be made citizen-centric, instead of Government-centric, as it is at present. Inculcation of vigilance awareness in public is another key factor for effectively checkmating corruption in public services. Nothing will be more effective in curbing corruption than an awakened public, conscious of its rights and unwilling to yield to coercive corrupt. Multi-model communication options, which are easy & convenient to use by public at large and protect identities if so desired, should be available to common man to communicate his grievance to the authority concerned. RTI Act is a powerful tool in this context. At the same time, public education campaigns aimed at enhancing public awareness of their rights and discouraging compulsive use of bribes to advance even genuine matters, should be launched.
7. We had noted with rapt attention, the concerns raised by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in the last Conference, regarding possible negative impact of anti-corruption drives on the decision making process in key governance structures. Sir, it has been our constant endeavour to ensure that even while carrying on with the relentless drive against corrupt and dishonest elements, no victimisation and harassment of any upright official ever takes place. Protection of the honest and the innocent is a matter of great importance to us.
8. Sir, CBI has evolved as Multi-Disciplinary Agency over the years with its recognizable expertise in investigation of economic offences, bank frauds, Cyber Crime, IP Rights related crimes and terrorism related crimes, CBI, in this Conference shall focus only on corruption related issues and concerns of State ACBs. State Governments and State ACBs have a key role to play in a nationally coordinated and concerted drive to stamp out corruption. Their collective jurisdiction and domain is much larger than that of CBI. State ACBs face glaring handicaps, difficulties. Most ACBs remain under tight and direct control of bureaucratic and political set-ups of the day and in many cases, are not provided with even minimal resources and infrastructure. ACBs lack operational freedom as provided by law so as to be able to win the confidence of people in their efforts against corruption. Appointments to State ACBs are frequently made on ad-hoc basis and generally, honest but inconvenient officers bear the brunt of arbitrary postings and transfers. Tenures of the heads of ACBs or other senior officials posted to the ACBs are not certain. There is as such a strong case for reforms, strengthening and modernisation of State ACBs to enable them to function as effective tools to fight corruption. Government of India had approved allocation to State ACBs upto 3% of the Police Modernisation Grant. Most of the ACBs are yet to benefit from this important Central Government direction based on recommendation of the last Biennial Conference. In this context, it is submitted that Ministry of Home Affairs may reiterate that modernisation proposals of ACBs upto 3% of Police Modernisation allocation be made integral and inescapable part of the State Police modernisation proposals.
9. Development of human resources is yet another weak link in State ACB set-ups. The fight against corruption needs a dedicated cadre of personnel with special skills. However, the Investigating Officers lack even basic investigation skills, in many cases. Same is the case with understanding and appreciation of legal issues, which frequently results in acquittal of accused. In this regard, CBI can offer help and cooperation in development of well-trained cadres for the State ACBs. Besides its vast pool of highly experienced IOs, CBI has a very well established Training Academy and it is in a position to provide requisite training facilities, infrastructure and skills support to willing and needy State ACBs.
10. One more issue, which comes to my mind, is the need to maintain high morale of our cadres, especially in view of intrinsically negative undertones of the nature of work they are doing. Sufficient opportunities for career progression, requisite infrastructure and adequate financial compensation and incentives can all go a long way in creating and sustaining a contented and committed cadre. We have been working towards identifying and implementing measures aimed at empowering the Investigating and Law Officers in CBI. In this regard, all my colleagues join me in conveying our sincere gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and MOS(PP) for having sanctioned Special Incentive Allowance to the CBI executive officers connected with investigative work.
11. In recent years, a number of important legal issues have come into sharp focus in the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases. Many of these issues have emerged from path-breaking judgements of Hon'ble Supreme Court and various High Courts. The legal inadequacies of the anti-corruption laws also help the unscrupulous elements. The impact and implications of these and possible solutions will be deliberated upon during the conference. It is gratifying to note that a number of State Anti-Corruption agencies have sent their suggestions which will form the basis of threadbare discussions.
12. We assure you, Sir, that we will do our utmost to keep marching towards the goal of "Zero Tolerance with Corruption". It will be our endeavour to refocus all our energies and skills to evolve effective strategies to achieve this.
13. Sir, if pathbreaking RTI Act can take India thirty notches higher in perceptions indicator of Transparency International. I am confident, that under your support and guidance, CBI and State Anti Corruption Bureaus shall achieve notable success in the nation's campaign against corruption.
14. Sir, once again I extend a very warm welcome to you on behalf of CBI and all the State delegates present here. Thank you, Sir.
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