An Umbrella Body ? A Distant Echo ?
Context :
CJI Ramana says need independent umbrella body for central probe agencies / Ind Express / 02 April 2022
Extract :
Chief Justice of India N V Ramana underlined Friday the need to set up a statutory, independent institution which could bring under one roof the CBI and other agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO). This, he said, would end multiplicity of proceedings and save them from being blamed as tools of political harassment.
“ There is an immediate requirement for the creation of an independent umbrella institution, so as to bring various agencies like the CBI, SFIO, ED, etc. under one roof. This body is required to be created under a statute, clearly defining its powers, functions and jurisdictions,” he said, adding that “such a law will also lead to much needed legislative oversight”.
Stating that the umbrella body should be headed by an “independent and impartial authority”, the CJI said the appointment must be made “by a committee akin to the one which appoints the Director of the CBI. The head of the organisation can be assisted by deputies who are specialists in different domains”.
“This umbrella organisation will end multiplicity of proceedings.
A single incident these days gets investigated by multiple agencies, often leading to dilution of evidence, contradiction in depositions, prolonged incarceration of innocents.
It will also save the institution from being blamed as a tool of harassment. Once an incident is reported, the organisation should decide as to which specialised wing should take up investigation,” he said.
“Police and public order being in the State list, the burden of investigation is primarily on the state police and there is no reason why state investigative agencies cannot enjoy the same level of credibility as that of the national agency,” he said, adding that “the Central law for the umbrella investigative body… can be suitably replicated by the states”.
MY TAKE :
E - Governance ?.............................
Extract :
Look at the following , partial list of Central and State Agencies set up to fight fraud , money-laundering , corruption , tax-evasion , economic crimes etc :
> Public Accounts Committee ( PAC )
> Central Vigilance Commission ( CVC )
> Central Information Commission ( CIC )
> Research and Analysis Wing ( RAW )
> Serious Fraud Investigation Office ( SFIO )
> Information Bureau ( IB )
> Economic Offence Wing ( EOW )
> Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI )
> Department of Revenue Intelligence ( DIR )
> Comptroller and Auditor General ( CAG )
> Anti Corruption Bureaus ( States ).... ( ACB )
> Enforcement Directorate ( ED )
> Lok Ayukts ( States )
> Lok Pal ( Central )
Despite such an army of Agencies , how do corrupt manage to get away ?
Or , in case caught , manage to delay delivery of punishment for years ?
No doubt , there must be several reasons , including , inter - agency rivalry to get credit - something difficult to eliminate altogether
But , I believe , the most important reason is :
Lack of a COMMON / COMPUTERIZED database of all offences / cases / persons being investigated
And , which is readily " Accessible " to all of these Agencies , all over the country ( 24 * 365 )
Already , every Agency compiles huge dossiers on " Suspects " in its own " Departmental Database " , which is
never shared with other Agencies , leading to ,
> Huge amount of duplication of efforts / information
> Fractured / scattered profiles of " Suspects "
> Enormous waste of time / resources
What will help ?
> Dismantling of individual departmental databases
> Merging of all Agency-wise databases into a SINGLE / UNIQUE database
> All Agencies to enter their findings / data / info into this COMMON
database , with nothing preserved on local computers
> All data-entry FORMS to be ONLINE . No paper forms at all
> All local computers connected to ultra-secure Network ( Encrypted )
> " Access Rights " to individuals , based on Biometric Identification
Related Reading :
Who watches the Watchmen ?.............................
Maharashtra to launch criminals' biometric database of 6.5 lakh people to aid police investigation ( 31 March 2022 )
Extract :
Maharashtra is set to become the first state to launch a biometric database of 6.5
lakh people with criminal records along with a digital fingerprint and iris scanning
system.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will launch a criminals' biometric
database on Saturday to help police investigations fast track a crime suspect.
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With regards,
Hemen Parekh / hcp@RecruitGuru.com / 02 April 2022
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