Rail Gate Needs Further Investigations

 In his article 'Restructuring the Raiways to no end', ( The Tribune 5-10-2014) ,Mr R C Acharya has raised a very valid point revealing the Railway Minister's nexus with postings and purchases when he says 'the latest fiasco of "cash for post" during Pawan Kumar Bansal’s tenure was one such example of a vendor trying to influence not only the outcome of a tender, but also slotting a key purchaser who would be favourable to their overtures.' This statement leaves no manner of doubt as to the inadequacy of investigation in this famous case wherein CBI has filed a chargesheet against nephew of Sh Pawan Kumar Bansal for allegedly accepting bribe from top railway officer for getting him posted on plum post of Member (Electrical) having enormous opportunities for creating and distributing spoils.As no evidence seems to have emerged as to direct nexus between the nephew and Mr Bansal, he has not been arraigned as an accused.At the same time keeping in view the fact that his nephew was visiting his official residence and using his telephone and also had been his election agent, no prudent citizen can believe that money was not intended to reach the Minister. A wishy washy attitude to corruption is likely to erode the credibility of new dispensation under Mr Modi.Instant case of corruption is required to be taken to its logical end. A through probe into the official conduct of the Minister during few months of the tenure will bring to the fore the whole modus operandi. In such cases of corruption,  the investigating agency can not be content with the isolated episode. A thorough probe and supplementary chargesheet is required.

Supreme Court of India on Corruption

The honorable Supreme Court of India in case of Niranjan Hemachal Sashittal versus State of Maharashtra (2013 (4) SCC 642 ) has authoritatively pronounced on corruption as under:-
"It can be stated without any fear of contradiction that, corruption is not to be judged by degree, for corruption mothers disorders,destroys societal will to progress,accelerates undeserved ambitions, kills conscience,jettisons the glory of institutions, paralyses economic health of a country,corrodes the sense of civility and mars the marrows of the Governance." 

LAND MARK SC JUDGEMENT

The honorable Supreme Court of India deserves kudos for having delivered a landmark judgement in Vijay Shankar Pandey versus Union of India and others wherein it has been authoritatively held that
"The constitution declares that India is a sovereign democratic republic. The requirement of such a republic is that every action of the state is to be informed with reason.State is not a hierarchy of regressively genuflecting coterie of bureaucracy.
The right of judicial remedies for redressal of either personal or public grievances is a constitutional right of the subjects (both citizens and non citizens ) of this country. Employees of State can not become members of a different and inferior class to whom such right is not available."

Having spearheaded a crusade against corruption while standing in turbid waters of immorality while seving for over three decades in a premier PSU of State of Punjab,I also got two such show cause notices on grounds similar to those in charge sheet of Sh  Vijay Shankar Pandey. My reply to these showcause notices was exactly on the lines  and principles which have now been enunciated by the honorable Apex Court.I was awarded punishment of 'warning' in both the cases.This punishment was too small compared to the risks perceived by me while following this path of catching the bull of corruption by its horns and it did not deter me from following exposing the modern day dacoits who are pinching the pockets of poor masses without letting them have even an air of the naked loot. Conscientious employees amongst the otherwise spoilt lot can be of immense help in stopping this drift. These employees did not raise their voice for fear of adverse reprisals. The judgement of SC will go a long way to take away this imaginary fear factor and embolden them to raise their voice against wrongdoings apparent to them in their immediate surroundings.

Politics dictates agenda for anti corruption crusade

The turn of events in Delhi leading to dharna led by Mr Arvind Kejriwal at Raisina Hills has come as a great shock to those who have been crusading against corruption in this country.This is a known fact that Delhi Police is very corrupt and that it is insensitive to the aspirations of general public. But, this matter has been handled by the AAP government in a very shabby manner as the conduct of Delhi's Law Minister in the incident under question is indefensible in so far as forcing the police to raid foreign national's house at dead of night. I feel that political expediency rather than concern for sacred cause of containing corruption behind this sordid episode. The crusade against corruption is ultimately going to suffer as any adverse fall out of this agitation will be read against all those who have been crusading against corruption. I believe that war to free this country of corruption is much more arduous than that for independence of the country and those professing to fight this war should take cue from the lives of Mahatama Gandhi, Subhash Chander Bose and Bhagat Singh.. The objectives have to be so selfless that no body is able to read motives into the decision to launch this struggle. This is not the case in the present context. I hope that all concerned will see reason and ensure that minimum harm is caused to the churning process through which our polity is going.