“When Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards are wrongly issued to the well-off, crucial resources are diverted from those who genuinely need them,” said Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna.
Speaking at the celebration of the first Lokpal Day on Thursday, CJI said corruption is not limited to only larger, “newsworthy” scams, but is deep-rooted in daily actions such as biased government contracts, paper leaks and misallocation of public housing to the non-needy at a subsidised price.
Citing a World Bank report, the CJI noted that women, in particular, face a disproportionate burden due to their greater reliance on public services. “The marginalised and poor often become prey,” he said, as “they lack the power to complain, unlike the rich and powerful.”
Such instances widen inequality and also diminish public trust, Justice Khanna added. Emphasizing that while the establishment of institutions like Lokpal is important, he said even more important is that these institutions be governed faithfully. “Notably, when a case goes to trial, the law requires it to be completed within one year,” he said.
The Lokpal had an approved budget of over Rs 93 crore for the financial year 2023-24 and incurred an expenditure of around Rs 62 crore. Stressing the need for an institution like Lokpal, Lokpal Chairperson Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said that while the Parliament was conscious that there were laws and institutions to deal with corruption in public offices, there was a need to tackle the menace of corruption in a larger way.
The Lokpal Act came into force on January 16, 2014, however, the body started functioning only in March 2019. Justice Khanwilkar said steps are being taken to simplify the complaint registering process and make it more transparent while ensuring confidentiality, by incorporating advanced technology and AI for improving efficiency.
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Recalling the anti-corruption protests and hunger strikes to push the government to pass the Lokpal Bill, social activist Anna Hazare who attended the function virtually said, “This movement, which began in 2010, succeeded in 2019 after a prolonged struggle.” Hazare, a key figure who was involved in the enactment of the Lokpal Bill, pointed out that the bill was presented eight times in Parliament, between 1966 and 2011, during the tenures of various political parties before it saw the light of day.
The Lokpal is an independent anti-corruption body that investigates allegations of corruption against public officials. It can order and oversee investigations, and decide on legal action to be taken. Complaints can be filed at Lokpal's office in person or online.