Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has written to Union Ministers reminding them of the mandatory annual disclosure of assets and liabilities in accordance with the ‘Code of Conduct for Ministers.'
Under the code, Ministers have to declare every financial year the list of their assets and liabilities, including that of family members. The details pertaining to the Financial Year 2010-11 are uploaded on the Prime Minister's Office website. (http://pmindia.nic.in/).
PMO note
A note by the PMO said the details should include business interests and employment of spouse and dependents under a foreign government or organisation. The communication drew particular attention of the Ministers to paragraph 1 (a), 2 (c) and 3.2 of the code.
Paragraph 1 (a) prescribes that in addition to disclosure of details of the assets and liabilities, the declaration shall consist of particulars of all immovable property and the total approximate value of (i) shares and debentures, (ii) cash holdings and (iii) jewellery.
Paragraph 2 (c) says the Ministers should refrain from starting or joining any business and as per paragraph 3.2 the Ministers should not permit their spouse and dependents to accept employment under a foreign government in India or abroad, or in a foreign organisation (including commercial concerns) without prior approval of the Prime Minister.
“Where the wife or a dependent of a Minister is already in such employment, the matter should be reported to the Prime Minister for decision whether the employment should or should not continue. As a general rule, there should be total prohibition on employment with a Foreign Mission.”
: Be late than never, now it appears to have gone too late.We do accept certain events to take place in normal course instead reminders are sent. We have come across so many events so many Ministers under scanner but how long we can afford to do this. Again a reminder to investigate on various Ministers (Central),MLA's the list must include government official and public servants on this account.It is no social obligation but system needs to be operational in transparent manner. Need of the hour is to go for routine practice rather then advertising more through Press.
I am worried that the so called honest PM of this country should not become liability of this country. As the maxim Justice should not only be done but must have appeared to have been done the Prime Minister should also ask his alliance partners assets which are disproportionate to their means. A person who had not sufficient money to even pay for the railway fare has become one of the richest family in the world. Will PM take real efforts to confiscate the properties,assets looted through their political powers? I doubt very much about the sincerity of the PM and his party in this regard.
Why should PM remind ministers to declare assets, which is mandatory and annual ? PM is exhibiting to his team that he is weak.The norm should be such that those that do not comply automatically lose their cabinet berth. Only such practises will bring in discipline and transparecy at the highest level.Peer pressure will then go down the layers of administrative set up.
This is a mandatory requirement already being done annual basis and nothing new. How this is going to help in the present situation? People respond as if the PM is taking a very strong measure to check corruption.
At last, opening eyes to the fact that almost all politicians are capable corrupt beings. They are too smart to find loop holes in anything. Indian laws are designed with full of holes(architectural). So nothing to worry for them.
It is just futlie exercise.All know how strong the office of PM is at present. Many will not reply perhaps showing ignorance. Has any action been taken by PM office in this regards, should be made public?
A Prime Minister doesn't have to look at the mandatory annual disclosure of assets and liabilities of the ministers to find out whether they are indulging in corrupt practices especially in matters like allocation of the high value 2G spectrum to companies. In any case will ministers declare black money received in cash or deposited in Swiss banks? This type of image building of the PM will not wash with the people after a spate of scams under his watch.
This should be made mandatory to all MLA's MLC's and MP's, it should be brought under the RTI
Why could this not be done earlier? Better late than never.
too little, too late, self policing is no policing !
Please Email the Editor