The Lok Pal Bill will not help rid India of corruption. We have good laws, including the Prevention of Corruption Act, which are not implemented properly. The ratio of judges to citizens/litigants/disputes is miserably poor. Litigation is prohibitively costly, so the common man cannot afford to fight and enforce his fundamental rights. In this scenario, a Lok Pal Bill will not help. What is necessary is to ensure that the existing laws are adequately strengthened and properly implemented. Justice must be speedy and cost-effective. Unless these issues are addressed, there is no use of having another law to tackle corruption. Moreover, Anna Hazare’s campaign will not help India because till netas with vested interests hold power, they will find ways and means of sabotaging every law. Finally, we, as citizens, must blame ourselves equally for permitting corruption to thrive by offering bribes.
Jehangir Gai, Mumbai
Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard,
Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in
All letters should have a postal address and telephone number
