Wednesday, May 6, 2009

crusade against corruption!

I as an seasoned elocutionist and a person with extensive exposure to impromptu debates, mock parliaments, group discussions, team debates and cross examination style extempore debates. I distinctly remember me being adjudged as a best speaker during A.D Shroff Memorial Elocution Competition when i spoke on corruption when i was in first year law. As noted Jurist Fali Nariman rightly mentioned in his book 'India Legal System, How Can it be Saved?' quote india has too many laws but too little justice and in India there is too much rhetoric and too little reform. Laws pertaining to corruption in india have not stood the test of time and have not brought many transgressors to the book thanks to its poor implementation and not very punitive provisions.

The origin of many ills and shortcomings in India can be attributed to corruption may it be terrorism to inflation.Illegal gratification is considered a necessary oil for moving the wheels of administration to the bribe giver in order to 'get things done'. The civil society in India has shown abhorrence to crimes and felonies of varied nature but has not shown an attitude of despise and dismay also intolerance to corruption and eventually have accepted it as a human fraility and part and parcel of blemish of every political system.When a politician of stature, seniority and repute goes on record to pursue the issue of getting back money hoarded in swiss banks and other foreign banks through doubious channels his credibility and intention is questioned just because he is affiliated with a political party that is the chief adversary of the ruling party. It took none other than Ram Jethmalani, who is of course a giant legal luminary and noted jurist to file a Public Interest Litigation in this regard with other eminent citizens as petitioners for judicial intervention in this matter.The government has not shown keeness to deal with the matter of overseas accounts of indian nationals and NRIs beyond and in breach of legitimate monetary channels.


Its during recession some right thinking members of civil society and conscientious citizens of India realised ill gotten money if properly channelised can be utilised to salvage India from throes of debts and poverty. 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' must become a legislation, army men, police and sportsman other than cricketers deserve higher pay and perks also greater patronage.Its sounds illogical when prime minister expects CEO's to lead spartan life and sanctions enhancement of remeuneration of parliamentarians in every pay commission, it is a stance of double standards and hypocrisy as people in public life must lead a life of example by being austere and abstemious. The judges of higher rung and lower rung of judiciary should get income proportionate to the work the undertake and that is alloted to them and the difference of remeuneration and perquisites should be marginal than substantial to bring down if not totally weed out corruption. Every citizen with a clear conscience, right values and moral fibre must cry hoarse and oppose corruption at all levels in society with 'jehadi zeal' and fidayeen spirit and also if situation demands mujahidden fervour as jihad as per the holy koran is a duty to please the almighty by ones endeavour and not perpetrating wanton mayhem.