The government today announced a series of measures to expedite the process to deal with corruption cases against public servants. Out of 71 fast-track special CBI courts being set up, 44 have already started are already working. Government has also fixed a limit of three months to grant sanction for prosecution and strengthening the vigilance administration.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi today the Law Minister Mr. Salman Khurshid said that the decisions will be implemented soon after government orders are issued. These decisions were taken on the basis of the recommendations of a Group of Ministers (GoM). Mr. Khurshid flanked by minister of state for personnel V Narayanasamy said that it has also been decided to bring a new policy and a bill on public procurement in the Winter Session of Parliament to make the procedure more transparent.

Asked whether anti-graft measures were being announced under any impact Mr. Khurshid reminded that the GoM on corruption was set up on January 6 much before Hazare began his fast and the decisions are based on its first report in April. Observing that he is hopeful that the Lokpal Bill will be studied by the Standing Committee and tabled in Parliament in the upcoming session.

The minister said that a decision has also been taken to curtail the discretionary powers of Ministers as part of the anti-graft approach of the government. Mr. Narayanasamy said the GoM has recommended that the ministers will have no discretionary powers in the allotment of land, telephone and petrol pumps.

Elaborating on the strengthening of vigilance administration he said in the event of refusal of sanction to prosecute, the competent authority will have to submit its order, including the reasons for refusal, to the next higher authority for information within seven days.

Mr. Narayanasamy said that a committee, headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge, is being set up for studying cases which have been pending trial for more than ten years and make recommendations for their speedy disposal or withdrawal in the back drop of controversay on allotment of gas blocks. He said, an open and competitive bidding system is being put in place for exploiting natural resources. An amendment in the constitution to provide for summary proceedings in the cases of blatant corruption by public servants has also been approved. The recommendations have been accepted with some minor changes after due consideration by department of personnel, cabinet secretariat and the PMO.