Thousands in India cheer proposed anti-graft bill after activist's hunger strike
NEW DELHI (TrustLaw) - Assets amassed by corrupt civil servants in India may be seized and liquidated as part of a stricter legislation to curb graft in a country hit by a series of major scams, reported the Times of India on Tuesday.
A proposed anti-graft bill – currently being drafted by a committee of government officials and civil society members – won the support of thousands of people after a veteran activist went on hunger strike demanding its enactment in April.
The drafting committee agreed on Monday that under the proposed bill known as the "Jan Lokpal" bill, assets obtained through corrupt means would be confiscated to make good any loss to the exchequer, said the daily newspaper.
Activists have long complained that current legislation does not act as a great enough deterrent, as even if an official is jailed for graft, he or she still has no legal obligation to return the stolen assets.
"We have agreed that if a public servant has amassed wealth through corrupt means and it is proved so, then the assets will be confiscated," the paper quoted government sources as saying.
"The Lokpal will have powers to give appropriate directions to prevent destruction of records during investigations and prevent the public servant from secreting assets allegedly acquired by him through corrupt means," the unnamed sources added.
In April, septuagenarian Anna Hazare's calls for the bill – which would create an independent ombudsman with court-like powers that could prosecute ministers, bureaucrats and judges – tapped into widespread anger over a spate of graft scandals that have plagued the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Five days after Hazare's hunger strike began, Singh – under immense pressure from civil society and opposition parties – relented and agreed to instituting a drafting committee and to discuss the bill when parliament convenes in July.
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