Need to address trust deficit: CBI Director

It is an imperative necessity to reemphasize the need for probity in public life, says Sinha

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha today said there was a need to address "trust deficit" as the colonial administrative systems and procedures reek of lack of trust in the officers who implement the schemes.

Delivering a speech on the concluding day of the two-day CII annual meeting, Sinha spoke about corruption that was eating into the vitals.

"It is an imperative necessity to reemphasize the need for probity in public life. It is easier said than done," he said adding the country was awaiting the Lokpal with a lot of expectation and hopes.

An advocate of granting more autonomy to CBI especially delegation of financial powers, Sinha said the powers -- administrative and financial -- are centralized and the decision-making processes are "labyrinthine and time- consuming."

Referring to a quote of Mahatma Gandhi "I believe in trusting. Trust begets trust. Suspicion is fetid and only stinks. He who trusts has never yet lost in the world", the CBI Director said "the employees are to be trusted first to channelise their energy and creativity to further goals of the organisation."

In a veiled reference to government rejecting his plea for granting the CBI Director the status of a Secretary to the government, he said delegation of financial powers need to be revisited with the twin objectives of empowerment of various formations and reposing trust in them.

The proposal of the CBI Director had been rejected by the government.