An interesting news appearing in the Times of India(October 11 Chennai Edition page 9).
Nothing moves without money in govt depts, says SC
New Delhi: Stating that “nothing moves without money”, the Supreme Court has expressed concern over growing corruption in government machinery, particularly in the income tax, sales tax and excise departments.
“It is very unfortunate that there is no control over corruption in the country. There is rampant corruption, particularly in the department of income tax, sales tax and excise departments. Nothing moves without money,” a Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur said. The SC made the remarks while admitting an appeal filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal of an IT inspector Mohanlal Sharma by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, appearing for the CBI, submitted that Sharma was acquitted by the HC despite the trial court holding him guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of 10,000 from an IT assessee. He was earlier sentenced to one year RI by the trial court.
In a sarcastic vein, the Bench said, “Why not government legalise corruption so that a specific amount is fixed for every case. Let us say if a man wants his case to be settled, he can be asked to pay Rs 2,500. That way every individual will know how much bribe he has to pay. There is no need for any bargaining by the official and the people will also know beforehand how much they have to pay without any worry... Poor government officials, we can’t blame them also because of the growing inflation.”
Sharma, who appeared in person, denied the allegation and said he was innocent and had been falsely implicated.
The Bench was not impressed with the argument and reiterated that corruption, particularly, was more rampant in the IT, sales tax and excise departments. The Bench then sought the views of senior counsel K K Venugopal on its suggestion to legalise corruption in the country.
However, the senior counsel said it would be better if good moral values were imparted in every school of the country as part of their curriculum so that at least the future generation would be free from the menace of corruption.
The case of the CBI was that Sharma had initially demanded an amount of Rs 25,000 from an assessee failing which he threatened to reopen his assessment. The deal was allegedly struck finally for Rs 10,000, when he was caught by the officials, the agency claimed.
Nothing moves without money in govt depts, says SC
New Delhi: Stating that “nothing moves without money”, the Supreme Court has expressed concern over growing corruption in government machinery, particularly in the income tax, sales tax and excise departments.
“It is very unfortunate that there is no control over corruption in the country. There is rampant corruption, particularly in the department of income tax, sales tax and excise departments. Nothing moves without money,” a Bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and T S Thakur said. The SC made the remarks while admitting an appeal filed by the CBI challenging the acquittal of an IT inspector Mohanlal Sharma by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, appearing for the CBI, submitted that Sharma was acquitted by the HC despite the trial court holding him guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of 10,000 from an IT assessee. He was earlier sentenced to one year RI by the trial court.
In a sarcastic vein, the Bench said, “Why not government legalise corruption so that a specific amount is fixed for every case. Let us say if a man wants his case to be settled, he can be asked to pay Rs 2,500. That way every individual will know how much bribe he has to pay. There is no need for any bargaining by the official and the people will also know beforehand how much they have to pay without any worry... Poor government officials, we can’t blame them also because of the growing inflation.”
Sharma, who appeared in person, denied the allegation and said he was innocent and had been falsely implicated.
The Bench was not impressed with the argument and reiterated that corruption, particularly, was more rampant in the IT, sales tax and excise departments. The Bench then sought the views of senior counsel K K Venugopal on its suggestion to legalise corruption in the country.
However, the senior counsel said it would be better if good moral values were imparted in every school of the country as part of their curriculum so that at least the future generation would be free from the menace of corruption.
The case of the CBI was that Sharma had initially demanded an amount of Rs 25,000 from an assessee failing which he threatened to reopen his assessment. The deal was allegedly struck finally for Rs 10,000, when he was caught by the officials, the agency claimed.
