Apropos “SC wants deadline to sanction officials’ prosecution” (February 1), the Supreme Court has ruled that the right to file a complaint against a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act is a constitutional right and any citizen can approach the competent court to seek prosecution of a corrupt public servant, minister, MP or MLA. The court recommended that Parliament should make amendments to Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 under which the sanction of the competent authority is a prerequisite to prosecute corrupt public servants. It is this provision that is abused by the government to protect corrupt politicians and public servants by denying or indefinitely holding back requests to sanction prosecution. The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling will certainly go a long way in containing corruption in high places.
M C Joshi Lucknow
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