The rise in the lack of transparency in various deals in India has witnessed a multiplication in corruption-related cases, whether public or private. Political scams like 2G, including the Satyam scandal, shook the country. Let us understand corruption in the article.
Corruption refers to a person or organisation that misuses and abuses power while in the government for personal interests, either financial or for a personal favour. It is a form of mendacious act as a criminal offence that can occur in the business, the courts, the media, civil society, and all fields.
According to the Corruption perception index, 2020, Out of 180 countries, India stands at 86th place worldwide. It obstructs economic growth and weakens democracy and the rule of law in the country without stability and accountability. A few examples are a public servant demanding money or favour in exchange for services, or a politician misusing public funds, offering public jobs or contracts to their acquaintances, sponsors, families or corporations bribing officials to lure deals and their personal.
What does corruption include?
- Bribery: It is an act of providing some money or something precious to make someone do something for them. It is generally seen as one of the widely practised methods.
- Extortion: It refers to pressuring someone into giving something through coercion or any threat.
- Patronage: A party in power provides groups, families, or ethnicities with their electoral endorsement by undertaking illegal gifts or illegal award appointments or government contracts for a particular period.
- Collusion: It is a deceived deal or secret agreement between two or more parties to restrict open competition by cheating, misleading or defrauding others of their legal prerogatives.
- Fraud: It is misconduct by a person who cheats somebody to get money or property illegally.
The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA, 1988) is an act of the Parliament of India set up to tackle corruption in government agencies and public sector businesses in India. Here, the offence such as taking gratification with or receiving personal gains with a public servant will have a punishment of imprisonment of not less than six months extendable up to 5 years, and a fine shall also be imposed, or the offence like an act of criminal misconduct by the public servant can result into the imprisonment of not less than 1year expandable up to 7 years and fine shall also be levied.
Powers of special courts under this act consist of a special Judge who may consider the offences without the accused being committed to him for trial; In trying the accused people, it would conform to the procedure mentioned by the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), for the trial of warrant cases by the Magistrates across the country.
Ways to bring transparency in the system
The proper implementation of stringent punishment laws is required. Some other ways to gradually eliminate corruption could include the installation of cameras at the workplaces, dispatching information and real data to the public, incentivising and praising diligence of an employee in the organisation or any person, a suitable salary to an employee, going cashless, increasing digital e-governance, bringing police reforms and keeping inflation rate low.
