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Jethmalani charges CBI with corruption

At a time when the Central Bureau of Investigation seems to be in great demand, Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani has expressed dissatisfaction over its performance and charged it with being "corrupt."

Addressing a seminar on criminal justice organised jointly by the Law Commission of India and the Criminal Justice Society of India in New Delhi, Jethmalani criticised the Supreme Court order that in 1996 made the CBI and Enforcement Directorate independent organisations and placed them under the autonomous Central Vigilance Commission.

The apex court had brought the CBI and ED under the CVC to check corruption and improve their performance, but despite this the situation has not changed, Jethmalani said.

''Now there is no one in the government to exercise direction, superintendence and control over the CBI. No organisation is free from corruption and the system of investigation by CBI continues to be as corrupt as any other organisation. This results in delay in investigation and CBI losing cases,'' the law minister said.

'The Supreme Court passed the orders... But the situation has gone from bad to worse," he added.

Following the apex court ruling, the government passed an ordinance in 1997 to bring the CBI and ED under the CVC.

Stressing that corruption was deep-rooted in society, Jethmalani said the country had stood 14 in the list of the least corrupt nations in 1964; but today it was one of the most corrupt nations.

Jethmalani also advocated the need for judicial accountability.

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