In spite of the various controversies that it courted and the Centre's 'interference' which it decried on subsequent occasions, the AAP dispensation claims to have, more or less, delivered on the most significant of its anti-graft promises at the conclusion of its maiden year in office.
From finally passing the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill to appointing the Capital’s first lady Lokayukta – a post lying vacant since 2013 – those associated with its vigilance mechanism contend that much has been achieved through the simple streamlining of basic internal processes which have been made more transparent. “Systemic changes such as the e-district project which cuts through bureaucratic red-tape, Citizens’ Charters in each department and doing away with unnecessary affidavits and paper-work have now made convoluted procedures simpler and nipped possibilities of graft in the bud,” said Gopal Mohan, an IIT alumnus who managed Mr. Kejriwal's poll campaign before the formation of his government and currently functions as advisor on vigilance matters to the Chief Minister.
“Not just these, improvements in departmental hierarchies have been made with a view to giving more autonomy to officials in-charge of vigilance. Officials at posts such as Directors or Deputy Directors no longer have additional administrative responsibilities and function exclusively to check graft,” Mr. Mohan said, adding that close to 45 Delhi government officials had faced the music despite helpline 1031 having been 'snatched away' from the AAP just months after coming to power.
On the heels of resurrecting the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, the AAP government, on October 20, in accordance with a unanimous decision taken by an unlikely panel, paved the way for the appointment of a former lady judge of the Delhi High Court at the helm of the State's anti-graft ombudsman.
Justice (Retd.) Reva Khetrapal was named the Delhi Lokayukta in a unanimous decision taken by a panel consisting of Mr. Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta and the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court G. Rohini within minutes of the commencement of proceedings.
A notification announcing Ms. Khetrapal's appointment as Lokayukta – a post which had remained empty for two years after being vacated by Manmohan Sarin in November 2013 – was issued after a go-ahead from the office of President Pranab Mukherjee days later.
Meanwhile, at a time when the opposition and even the citizens of the Capital least expected it, the AAP Cabinet tabled a 'more potent version' of the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill in the Assembly in mid-November.
Passed by a thumping majority at the AAP-dominated Delhi Vidhan Sabha two days later, the Bill would see 'some opposition' from national anti-graft crusader-cum-Kejriwal-mentor Anna Hazare before his suggestions would be incorporated as amendments to the original Delhi Jan Lopal Bill (2015).
“If we get hold of the ACB again, the government, as per the vision of the CM, aims to evolve a mechanism that will ensure prison terms for occupants of public office found guilty of corruption,” Mr. Mohan said.
