-: [rti4empowerment] A Comparison of RTI Act, 2005 viz-a-viz JanLokpal

Saturday, August 27, 2011

[rti4empowerment] A Comparison of RTI Act, 2005 viz-a-viz JanLokpal - Part III

A Comparison of

some Available Anti-Corruption Laws in India

RTI Act, 2005

viz-à-viz

JanLokpal (CBI, CVC, CAG).

Part – III

RTI Act, 2005.

JAN LOKPAL / LOKPAL

ENACTED

PROPOSED BILL

5. POWER – CORRUPTS

It is Power which corrupts, a human being in an institution of Governance:

A quote from 17^th Century:

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it"

William Pitt, the Elder, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778, in a speech to the UK House of Lords in 1770:

Part III - Continued Further .....

5.1

Virtually Incorruptible:

RTI Dilutes Power:

RTI confers power on all the citizens of our country, thereby effectively diluting the Power.

5.1

Corruptible:

JanLokpal Concentrates Power:

Jan Lokpal confers power on 11 persons in particular and approx. 20,000 subordinate staff in general, thereby effectively concentrating power in a relatively small set of people.

5.2

Independent:

A citizen who wants to expose corruption is not dependent on another person / institution for conducting investigation on his / her behalf.

5.2

Dependent:

A citizen who wants to expose corruption is dependent on another person / institution i.e. Lokpal, for conducting investigation on his / her behalf.

5.3

Separation of and from Power:

RTI ensures Separation of Power as well as Separation from Power.

5.3

Separation of Power but NO Separation FROM Power:

Lokpal being an Independent Institution there will be Separation of Power from the existing Government;

But Please Note: Lokpal is not Separated from Power, in fact it is conferred with more Power.

The Birth of Corruption:

If one were to do research on the subject of Corruption, one may enroll two groups (not individuals) of people:

One group comprising of JUST people who are fighting against corruption and

A second group comprising of UNJUST people who are indulging in corruption.

Confer both these groups with Power to do what they desire to do in life.

Now, sit back and observe what both these groups do .....

At the end of the day, you will find both these groups (not individuals) who were conferred with Power, strolling on the same streets, doing the same thing :)