The Rediff Special/Promila Kalhan

'Ensuring absolute integrity on the part of ministers is an indispensable condition for the establishment of a tradition of purity in public service'

After dealing with the various measures recommended for effectively tackling the problem of corruption, in section II of the report, the Santhanam Committee observed that, 'in the long run, the fight against corruption will succeed only to the extent to which a favourable social climate is created. There is a large consensus of opinion that a new tradition of integrity can be established only if the example is set by those who have the ultimate responsibility for the Government of India, namely, the ministers of the central and state governments. The problem is difficult and delicate. Ministers are necessarily the leaders of the political party which succeeds in obtaining a majority in elections based on adult suffrage.

There is a widespread impression that failure of integrity is not uncommon among ministers and that some ministers who have held office during the last sixteen years have enriched themselves illegitimately, obtained good jobs for their sons and relations through nepotism and have reaped other advantages inconsistent with any notion of purity in public life.

It is a pity that neither the Congress authorities not the great leaders who took over the Government of India realised the importance of evolving a suitable machinery and procedure for preventing and dealing with such corruption. We are convinced that ensuring absolute integrity on the part of ministers at the Centre and the states is an indispensable condition for the establishment of a tradition of purity in public service.'

The Santhanam Committee's report set out to lay down a procedure for (a) dealing with specific allegations against central and state ministers; (b) a code of conduct for central and state ministers; (c) a code of conduct for MPs and MLAs; and (d) a code of conduct for political parties.

The Santhanam Committee recommended that the President might constitute, on the advice of the prime minister, a national panel out of which a committee of three persons may be constituted to enquire into the allegations against a minister. At least one of the three persons should have held or should be holding a high judicial office. If a formal allegation is made by any ten members of Parliament in writing to the prime minister through the Speaker or the chairman, the prime minister should consider himself obliged, by convention, to refer the allegation for immediate investigation by such a committee.

The committee constituted out of the national panel should first ascertain whether there is a prima facie case. It should have the power to direct the CBI to investigate and report. If the Committee wishes to make some enquiries other than through the CBI, it should be given the necessary facilities.

The Santhanam Committee recommended that the code of conduct for ministers should include the same provisions as for public servants in respect of acquisition of property, acceptance of gifts and disclosure of assets and liabilities. It was suggested that the code for ministers may be placed before Parliament. Another matter touching ministers put out by the Santhanam Committee was in respect of fund-raising which could lead to corrupt practices.

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