The Modi-led government has introduced new service rules.
When sleuths of the Income Tax department recovered cash worth Rs 3 crore from the residence of IAS officers Arvind and Tinu Joshi in February 2010, the case had triggered outrage and shock across the country. The IAS couple from Madhya Pradesh, now dismissed from service, had reportedly amassed property worth Rs 350 crore.
To tackle corruption cases like these, the Narendra-Modi led government has introduced some tough new service rules. Now, all central government employees will have to furnish details about all the assets owned by them, as well as those of their spouses and dependents. This will include details of bank deposits, properties, shares, debentures and personal loans. All government employees, barring peons, will have to follow the new rules.
The government has even sought information about the "vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewelry" owned by the officials as well. The new rules will apply to close to 23 lakh central government employees who will have to file a detailed report about their assets every year by July 31.
The government is hopeful that these new rules will help fight graft; the measures have also been welcomed by the Opposition.
Former bureaucrats, while welcoming the move, also offered a few suggestions to make the
law more effective.
"I welcome the move. It (the information) should also be put on a public domain so the public can check it and if any information is withheld, they can expose the same," said former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami.
Former director of Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI Joginder Singh said, "Some of these rules were already there. They have to be implemented. That's important."
Some also opined that the law should be extended to state government employees who have time and again faced equally serious allegations of corruption.