By IANS,
New Delhi : President Pratibha Patil Monday said the government was considering abolishing the discretionary powers of ministers to enhance transparency in public life and emphasised that India would ratify the UN convention against corruption.
Delivering the customary address to a joint session of parliament on the inaugural day of the budget session, Patil said a group of ministers (GoM) was considering “all measures, including legislative and administrative, to tackle corruption and improve transparency”.
“My government has also decided to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption,” Patil said.
She said the GoM will consider “issues relating to the formulation of a public procurement policy and enunciation of public procurement standards”. She said the GoM wil consider the “abolition of discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers”.
“Introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources, fast-tracking of cases against public servants charged with corruption and amendments to the relevant laws to facilitate quicker action against public servants” will be also considered by the GoM.
She said the report of the GoM was expected soon.
Patil said the protection to whistleblowers has been introduced.