HomeNewsNew law for curbing corruption to be sent for Presidential nodPrint4/16/2012

New Delhi, Delhi [India]

A new anti-corruption law--the Rajasthan Special Courts Bill-2012--that provides for speedy trial in corruption cases and confiscation of properties/assets attained/ acquired by public/government servants through corrupt means disproportionate to known sources of income...

A new anti-corruption law-the Rajasthan Special Courts Bill-2012-that provides for speedy trial in corruption cases and confiscation of properties/assets attained/ acquired by public/government servants through corrupt means disproportionate to known sources of income, will be sent to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil for approval within a week.

The Bill was passed by the State Assembly by a voice vote after a due debate on Thursday last.

This new and strong law is legislated on initiatives from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as present provisions in laws for preventing/curbing corruption, are not adequately strong and effective and the state government is committed to promulgating it as soon as it gets the Presidential nod, an official spokesman said here today.

He said that the Chief Minister had announced on February 2 last his government's willingness for legislating such a law and then he had taken swift actions one after one for getting the Bill passed in the assembly on April 12-within 70 days.

'This reflected the government's seriousness over the issue,' the spokesman said.

The law have provisions for speedy trial in the cases under the Anti Corruption Act and also to confiscate properties built/ attained by corrupt means and to declare such assets as public properties for community uses like hospitals, school and other such purposes.

Everyone who draws salary from the government exchequer, including the Chief Minister, does fall under ambit of this law.

The Special Court formed so under the Act would hear the cases in such a manner that the same would be decided within six months.

Ordinarily there is be no provision for a stay order, but if ordered in unavoidable circumstances, then it would not prevail for more than three months. The verdicts of the special courts would be challenge-able before the High Court which would require to hear and decide the appeal in time-bound manner within six months.

In the situation of the acquittal of the accused in trial and/or later at the appeal stage the government would return him/her the confiscated property, if that is not possible then the person concerned would be paid the price/value of the property with five per cent interest.

The Bill also provides for appointment of an special officer for identify such cases and keep a tab on the procedure. With this, Rajasthan became the third state after Bihar and Orissa, to have such special law.

New Anti-corruption Law, Rajasthan Special Courts Bill-2012, Corruption Cases, Confiscation of Properties, Public-government Servants, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Anti Corruption Act