Supreme Court Highlights Problem Of Corruption In Government Offices; Says Evolution Of Nation Will Happen Only With Values and Character

A Bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna observed this verbally while highlighting the state of the rampant corruption in government offices.

“What is happening in the name of democracy. What kind of bureaucracy we have, better to keep quiet…..No comments. The first thing we need to evolve as a nation, we have to go back to values, we have to gain character. That goes to each one of us. You go to any government office; I’ve said this earlier also. Will anyone come out of that office unscathed, with full dignity as a citizen of this country? Corruption!. Go to the western countries, common man is never bogged down with corruption. Maybe in the highest levels. Here, what happens? It’s the root problem. We need to regain character, without that there’s no use.”

There must be accountability at all levels, Justice Nagarathna added.

This discussion came alive while the Bench was considering a plea seeking to debar persons against whom charges have been framed in serious offences from contesting in elections.

During the hearing, Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay gave statistics on how the number of political persons against whom chargesheets were filed in criminal cases were on the rise in the past years.

The Court pointed out that a judgement authored by former CJI Dipak Mishra said that Court cannot help it and had expressed that the Government should do something about it. The Court granted three weeks’ time to the Union to file its counter by way of last opportunity while terming issue at hand as an “important” one.

Advocate Amit Sharma appearing for the Election Commission of India said that this aspect would be under the Parliament's purview. An amendment under a statute won’t come within the ECI’s purview, he said. “In our reforms, we have raised this concern on criminalisation of politics”, he stated.

“I am only saying for persons against whom charges have been framed. If political parties are not able to find criminal background of these persons, it's problematic”, Upadhyay argued.

Sharma pointed out that the plea sought to debar persons says at the stage of chargesheet filed. “That's a little concerning”, he said while adding that even Law commission reports recommend debarring after conviction.

As the hearing formed shape, the Bench stated that in Kerala, if birth certificate and death certificates are not given on time, there would be a fine. Few states have that, it added.

That's why I filed my PIL on Aadhaar to be linked with one’s property. 25% of the issues will be solved, Upadhyay said.

75% would still remain, the Court responded.

Upadhyay also stated that India needs a real demonetisation, similar to what happened in 1978.

Finally, all of this goes back to one’s values, the Court said. “If you have that, you will have a nation. All these problems will slowly weed out”.

“We need teachers who should be builders of the nation”, Justice Nagarathna said.

“Yes! We also need to be humble. Values are more important than all the material wealth”, Justice Joseph added while posting the matter for final hearing on April 10.

Case Title: Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs UOI