State Vigilance departments should be made independent bodies

 

Ludhiana, September 20 The Anti-Corruption Federation of India (TACFI) has decided to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court for declaring the state vigilance departments as independent bodies. This was announced by Neeraj Chawla, the national president of TACFI, while addressing a press conference on Saturday.

Chawla said, “The state vigilance bodies should be made independent just like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They should also be trained on the lines of the CBI.” The vigilance bodies presently work under their respective state governments.

When asked if the state governments were using the vigilance departments as a tool for setting scores with rival political parties, he said, “It is quite evident.”

He said that corruption had to be controlled from the grassroots level and moreover at an individual level. Chawla said, “Corruption is growing at a rapid pace. TACFI cannot control it all alone.”

 

Indian Express Sep 21,2008