Setting up of Commission for Judicial Reforms

PIB Sunday, December 05, 2010 15:37 IST
The government has, in principle, decided to set u a “National Mission for Delivery of Justice and Legal Reforms”, which inter-alia, propose to undertake strategic initiatives to reduce the period of pendency in the courts from an average of 15 years to an average of three years by 2012. The detailed action plan is to be formulated under various strategies by the National Mission when set up, taking into account also ongoing activities. For speedy disposal of cases Government have already implemented initiatives likes increase in strength of Judges in Supreme Court and High Courts, amendment in Cr. P.C. to limit the number of adjournments to three, enactment of Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, Computerisation of Courts, release of funds as per Thirteenth Finance Commission recommendations for setting up of morning/ evening/ shift courts, strengthening alternative dispute Resolution system, Lok Adalats etc.

This information was given by the Law and Justice Minister, Dr. M. Veerappa Moily in Lok Sabha recently. vlk
Setting up of Commission for Judicial Reforms

Ex Army personnel alleges corruption in purchase of goods, High Court asks him to give names

Express News Service Posted: Nov 26, 2008 at 0055 hrs IST

Alleging largescale corruption in the purchase of goods and ration in the Army, a former Army personnel has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding an independent inquiry into the matter. The Court has asked him to file an affidavit naming the officers involved, within two weeks.
Ajit Singh Dahiya, who has not mentioned his rank in the petition, claimed that he was president of Haryana wing of Mahavir Kranti Dal, Ambala. He appeared in person today before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Jasbir Singh.

Dahiya has made seven Brigadiers, 10 officers of Colonel rank and a Major, party to the case. Dahiya has alleged that senior Army officers charge a commission of 35 per cent on the contracts given to various contractors to make purchases. Dahiya claims that in order to expose 'corruption' in the Army, he made a firm under the name of R K Traders and supplied various types of equipment to the Army.

He has said that he has done a ‘sting operation’ of various Army officers and has collected evidence against them. He served in Ordinance Corps, where most of the Army purchases take place.

However, the Court asked the petitioner if he is aware of the consequences if the petition turns out to be false. “Your own hands are soiled”, the Court remarked. In response, Dahiya said he is ready to face any consequences but wants the 'corruption' to be exposed.
He has stated he has written to various senior Army officers demanding action. “A letter was written to the Chief Justice of India who asked the CBI to look into the matter on May 31, 2007 but CBI did not take any action,” reads the petition.

Chouhan Satvinder Singh Sisodia, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the CBI did not take any action on the representation made by him, stating that Dahiya has not been able to provide any material evidence to prove the accusations. Several items which are cheaper and easily available through CSD service, are also being procured from the local market with ulterior motives, he has alleged.

Ex Army personnel alleges corruption in purchase of goods, High Court asks him to give names

Comment: This is an all India phenomena and not solely confined to Punjab and Haryana. Even low level army officers demand anywhere from 10% to 20% on local purchases as cut/ bribe. The disease is endemic. The defence forces need to find a antidote hurriedly before the command and control structure completely collapses. The need of the hour is to preserve the honour and dignity of a soldier. Corrupt soldiers can never win a battle!

Spooks Silence Reputed Military Historian

Dear Friends,

It is now over about six months since I sent you my last update. Of course, some of you must be keeping abreast of the latest developments through the newspapers. The controversy concerns my book India’s External Intelligence– Secrets of the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) that came out in June 2007. Based on a complaint from RAW, the CBI registered a FIR under the Official Secrets Act against me. They searched my house and questioned me subsequently. My plea for anticipatory bail was heard in the Sessions Court in Tis Hazari on 26 Sep. After over a dozen hearings, the case plea is still undecided. However, on 11 Apr the court has agreed to the CBI’s plea for the hearings to be held ‘in camera’. This will ensure that the media is kept out.

Another sinister development is that the CBI has filed a complaint in the court of the Metropolitan Magistrate on 9 Apr, giving out a gist of the charges against me. They followed this up with a charge sheet that was filed at 1600 hrs on 11 Apr. The next three days being holidays, I have still not got a copy of the charge sheet or the order of the sessions Court regarding in camera hearing. Hopefully, I should be able to get it on 15 Apr, when the courts open.

Some of may have read Indian Express of 10 Apr, which gives certain information given in the book that CBI considers ‘Secret’. Click link given below. Rajeev Dhawan, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court has written a forceful article in the Mail Today on 13 Apr (click active link below). He has made a very apt comment on the role of the bureaucracy.

Quote: They are not really concerned with contents of the book. They want to silence and pulverize General Singh and any body like him into submission. Government servants are like a club. The club interacts with each other. They develop friendships and animosities which are carried over into their retirement; and, who knows, perhaps into their next life. Unquote

We have seen how the bureaucrats have treated the Armed Forces in the report of the Pay Commission. What is happening to me and others like Ujjal Dasgupta is a manifestation of the same hostility and ill will that the bureaucrat harbours towards the soldier. (I was tempted to use the word Babu but desisted, not wishing to sully the memory of some of our veteran freedom fighters such Kunwar Singh and Dr. Rajendra Prasad for whom the prefix was used in British Times). There have been several instances of severe damage to national security in recent years such as the loss of computers with sensitive data in SAG, a DRDO unit; the escape of Rabinder Singh (media reports suggest that more than 60 others were part of the network); and the purchase of radio equipment of doubtful security by the SPG, brought out in my book. There are several officers named in my book who appear to be corrupt. No action has been initiated against any one in any of the cases mentioned above. The reason is not hard to fathom– soldiers are not part of the ‘club’.

I understand that we are planning a vigil at India gate on 27 April to bring out the injustice being done to soldiers. I think pay is just one of the things we should highlight before the public. What about the gradual and steady denigration of the status of the soldier since 1947; the loss of many service privileges due to lack of knowledge by the bureaucracy (priority in litigation, protection from prosecution when operating in aid to civil power, representation in court by persons other than an attorney, exemption of court fees on powers of attorney, exemption from tolls etc); the refusal to honour the war dead (there is no land for a war memorial, but there is for a police memorial) etc. I think we need to bring out all these issues before the public, highlighting the role of the soldier in maintaining the integrity of the nation not only against external threat but internal disorder. Would democracy have survived In India if the Indian soldier had emulated his counter parts in our neighbouring countries? The public must be informed of the stranglehold of the bureaucracy and how it has demoralised the soldier to such an extent that he no longer has any faith in the Government. Does it not ring an ominous bell for the future?

Regards,
Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)

Media Coverage:
What the CBI calls Official Secrets
CBI to charge ex- RAW Officer
Stop the prosecution of Maj Gen V K Singh: Official Secrets Act should be scrapped as well
CBI Charge sheets Former RAW Officer V K Singh
Indian Intelligence : Why top officials are upset with a new book
The Blinding Curtain

Comments: The Official Secrets Act enacted ages ago is presently used to whip the recently enacted Right to Information Act out of shape. Sample India's Contradictions in the new found Information Age. Spooks and spies need a training institute to impart professionalism into the art, instead of getting confused with wine, women and money laundering.

Lessons Learnt: The Defence Forces should deter officers moving to Intelligence Spooky Agencies which is likely to seal their fate, curb their freedom under the garb of vital National Interests and made scapegoats of others folly. Even one found carrying a camera in the Airport, can be booked under the Official Secrets Act of India.