Politicians who mastermind corruption usually manage to stay out of the reach of the long arm of the law. That they can get officials and underlings to do the dirty job is often sufficient protection from prosecution for those elected to public office. When a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation convicted 55 persons in a teacher recruitment scam on Wednesday, the most striking aspect was not the scale or size of the crime, but the nailing of former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Both Mr. Chautala and his son Ajay were found guilty of conspiring to replace the original selection lists with fake ones to fill over 3,000 teacher vacancies. Special CBI Judge Vinod Kumar took into account file notings and a “chain of circumstances” that implicated the former Chief Minister as the “main conspirator” in the scam. Mr. Chautala thus joins the few politicians who have been convicted of corruption. Other than Sukh Ram, R. Balakrishna Pillai, and Bangaru Laxman, not many top politicians have had to see the inside of a jail on being convicted of corruption. Of these Mr. Laxman, who as president of the Bharatiya Janata Party was caught on camera accepting a bribe from an undercover reporter, held no public office. Most cases against politicians in high office come to naught, as they meander to a tame acquittal after years of investigation and prosecution. Those that end in conviction usually do not involve the conspirator-politician, but only lowly officials.
Interestingly, the CBI court threw out the objection that the CBI was biased in the case and was working at the instance of the Congress, a rival of Mr. Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal. That the CBI has often served as the handmaiden of the party ruling at the Centre is undeniable, but this is no argument against the verdict in a case that was taken to its logical conclusion on the basis of available evidence. The recent increase in the rate of conviction of politicians for corruption could be on account of the activism of sections of civil society for a strong Lok Pal. Indeed, the scam is another reminder about the importance of having strong institutional mechanisms to prevent and punish corruption among persons holding public office. The importance of a free and empowered Lok Pal is evident now more than ever before. In a scenario where political motives are attributed to investigators and prosecutors, the independence and credibility of the investigating agencies and the judiciary will have to be protected at all costs. Instead of using parliamentary procedures and select committees as delaying tactics, the government must push through a Lok Pal Bill with teeth.
Keywords: political corruptions, JBT scam, Haryana recruitment scam, Om Prakash Chautala, Ajay Chautala, Haryana teachers recruitment scam, Sukh Ram, R. Balakrishna Pillai, Bangaru Laxman, corrupt politicians, Lok Pal Bill
The Editorial echoes the stark facts in India. But then, the way, only opposition politicians get punished, it would look as if congress politicians are above board, which is certainly not the fact. If we see CBI moving with same alacrity in respect of Congress Politicians also, then, there is possibility for corruption to come down. In this context only, the demand for an independent CBI and Lok Pal gain credence.
Politicians and powerful people have no shame in cheating or getting caught. It is nevertheless a good judgment that nails two top names. It is a pity that the Radia tapes and 2G still remain open cases. How much time does it take investigating authorities to gather solid evidence? This more than lack of legal provisions that is destroying our faith in law and administration.
So true except that arms of law too in our country is stunted.
Om Parkash chautala might have gone against congress that is why he is
convicted and prosecuted properly by CBI.
Many more Choutalas are outside the jail. When will they be punished? The law of the land shall deliver fast.
Naming and shaming with Prosecution should not be limited only to
politicians but should extend to corporate. Corporates who are the real
master and beneficiary of an unfair system where all work and produce
while few enjoy.
Lokpal Bill with teeth with independent social audit can deliver justice
fast and uniform as advocated in the editorial.
This editorial will only hold true when a senior politician from the
party in power is convicted of corruption. The state will always hound
politicians of the opposition parties while shielding their own. This
will continue as long as the CBI and state police are under the control
of the government rather than an independent authority.
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