Thus, at present, neither for prevention of political nor administrative corruption is there any effective and independent vigilance mechanism which may inspire public confidence. If the government of the day is serious to tackle the problem of “widespread” corruption, the following measures need to be taken:
1. Establishment of the Lokpal institution to deal with political corruption with suo moto power of initial thing action against corruption of suspected central ministers and MPs.
2. The Lokpal should have its own independent investigating and prosecuting agency without having to depend on the CBI.
3. The Lokpal should have legal powers to prosecute an accused minister in specially designated courts after a prima facie case is established against him by the Lokpal’s own inquiry.
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4. The charged minister must compulsorily resign after filing of the charge-sheet in the trial court.
5. The CVC should also be made a statutory body by a Parliamentary Law and redesignated as the Central Lokayukta.
6. The Central Lokayukta could be appropriately linked to the Lokpal by making provisions of sharing or having common officers, staff, investigating and prosecuting agencies.
7. The proposed Central Lokayukta should have the powers to finally decide on initiation of disciplinary action or prosecution against any public servant after a prima facie case is established by his own inquiry.
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Creation of Independent and Empowered Vigilance Bodies with Supporting Agencies: Unless such independent and duly empowered vigilance bodies are established, there is little chance of preventing or controlling high-level corruption.
Experience so far has shown that neither the existing anti- corruption law nor the CBI, nor anti-corruption police have been of much use in investigating, preventing and penalizing corruption among holders of high political offices.
After the Lokayukta in the States and the proposed Central Lokpal are installed, with their own independent investigating and prosecuting agencies, the CBI could continue to be under Government with its limited role of exercising internal vigilance on the lower and middle categories of public servants with the knowledge and approval of their heads of departments.
Empowering Heads of Departments: The ultimate responsibilities to check administrative corruption of their subordinates should lie with the Secretaries to Government and Heads of Departments.
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Use of Policy Only Under Judicial Control: The police’s use for surveillance, detection and investigation of corruption suspect persons should be on the approval of the appropriate civil or judicial authorities only. Unfortunately, the police in India, validly or otherwise, do not enjoy the reputation of being objective, just and fair-minded.