Early conviction can be deterrent to corruption: Lokayukta

Mtoday News

Bangalore, Dec 13: Early conviction of persons charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act can act as a deterrent to corruption, Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde said. 

 
"It takes as many as eight to ten years for the trial under this act to commence in Karnataka", he said speaking on "Probity in Public Life" during the valedictory function of the two-day national workshop on "Discipline and Vigilance Administration in Public Sector Banks" here today.

Terming these legal procedures as "outdated", Hegde said "nobody is interested in bringing about a change in these procedures".

"If a trial under this act concludes within six months, the percentage of corruption can come down by 50 per cent. Quick conviction in such cases can act as a deterrent to corruption", he said.

Hegde said with the entire activities of banking sector being in public domain, any misconduct by the employees whether they are in the management cadre or below can have an adverse impact on the society.

The bank employees are not only duty bound to help fight corruption and aiding Ombudsman like the Lokayukta by coming up with an "in-house mechanism", they themselves must take vow never to accept bribe, he said.

Hegde called upon persons holding public office to follow the seven principles of "selflessness, integrity, objectiveness, accountability, openness and honesty and leadership".

"There is an urgent need for our generation to be prepared for the sacrifice that may stem out of non payment of bribe", Hegde said.

He lamented the lack of value-based education in schools which led to the young imbibing "all wrong things".

Chairman, State Bank Of India O P Bhatt said "leadership is not what majority wants but to do what is right".