Demanding greater functional autonomy for the CBI, its director A P Singh on Friday said the agency is facing several impediments which include delays in granting sanction for prosecution, execution of Letters Rogatory and requests for probe abroad.
"Augmentation of manpower and greater functional autonomy for CBI is the need of the hour to keep pace with growing expectations of the higher judiciary, government and the common man," Singh said at the biennial conference of the heads of state Anti Corruption Bureaux and the CBI.
He said anti-corruption agencies are facing several impediments including section 6(A) of DSPE Act, 1946 which does not allow CBI to conduct an enquiry or investigation into offences committed by an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and above without prior permission of the government.
"There are also delays in getting sanction for prosecution, execution of Letters Rogatory and requests for investigation of offences abroad. Another major impediment is the delay in trial of cases. CBI alone has 10,000 cases pending trial," he said.
To curb grass-root corruption, Singh advocated reducing the interaction of common citizen with bureaucracy in their day-to-day routine work.
"If we are able to cater to the daily needs of our citizens and also minimise their interface with the bureaucracy, we could insulate them to a large extent from the phenomenon of corruption," he said.
The Director said the menace of corruption cannot be tackled through anti-corruption agencies alone but a multi-dimensional approach is required.
The two-day conference of the CBI and state anti-corruption bureax will discuss issues of severe and deterrent punitive action against public servants, preventive vigilance and capacity building of Investigating Officers.
"A special session is also proposed for discussion on simplifying provisions regarding attachment of properties of corrupt public servants," Singh said.
The CBI director said there is 'an increasing intolerance' towards corruption making it opportune moment to formulate strategies to take action against all the corrupt elements in our society and deliver positive results.
"We cannot afford to be passive spectators," he said. Singh said it is important for people holding high public office to maintain the highest standards of probity and conduct.