New Delhi: Holding that honest officers should not be harassed for bona fide mistakes made while making well-meaning decisions, PM Manmohan Singh today warned that if this was not done, decision making will suffer badly and governance will be stifled.
He also called for moderation of public debate about corruption as “unwarranted condemnation” of the decisions and that imputation of guilt and mala fide on decision-makers need to change.
Addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the Prime Minister said it was an ultimate aim of any anti-corruption mechanism to contribute towards improvement of the processes of governance and delivery of services which can happen only when bold and innovative decision-making was encouraged.
“Therefore, we must make sure that honest officers are not harassed for bona fide mistakes that they might make while taking well-meaning decisions,” he said, adding that CVC should live up to the words of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri who had said the commission should be a fearless champion of the man of integrity and source of terror to corrupt officers.
I believe that this debate has been for the good. It has led not only to increased awareness in the people about their rights and the responsibilities of public authorities but also a realization in public authorities of the heightened expectations that people have from them,” he said.
Dr. Singh said, “In the past few years, we have been witnessing a very vigorous public debate in our country on matters relating to corruption, with accusations flying thick and fast. This is accompanied by unwarranted condemnation of the decisions taken and imputation of guilt and mala fide on part of those who took the decisions, the Prime Minister said, noting that there is a need to change this state of affairs.
Bureau Report
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