By IANS,
New Delhi : It is vital to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) if corruption has to be overcome, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has said.
The PCA shoudl be amended to widen the definition of corruption from the existing one that now defines corruption as the misuse of public power for private gain or enrichment, CPI-M organ People’s Democracy said.
“In many cases, power is misused to benefit an entity like a private company which is not a ‘person’ as required under the PCA.
“Often, there may be no traceable kickbacks or embezzlement but there may be a huge loss to the public exchequer and breach of public trust … due to a willful misuse of power.”
The CPI-M also demanded a National Judicial Commission; law to protect citizens charter for redressal of public grievances; amending the constitution, if needed, to bring MPs under anti-corruption scrutiny; electoral reforms to check money power; setting up Lok Ayuktas in the states; and steps to unearth black money and confiscate funds illegally stashed away in tax havens.