RTI/Lokpal: New Amendments Severely Weaken The Legislations Intended To Bring In More Transparency, Justice AP Shah Writes To PM Modi [Read The Letter]

Former Chairman of the Law Commission of India Justice AP Shah on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to abstain from diluting various laws such as Companies Act, 2013 and RTI Act, 2005.Writing on behalf of the Citizens Whistle Blowers Forum (CWBF), Justice Shah asserted that the proposed amendments can lead to a spurt in economic offences, stating, “…any campaign against corruption can become effective only when there is a basic change in the mindset of the government in favour of greater transparency and accountability through civi society participation at all levels of decision taking, devolution of authority and decentralisation of governance, more importantly, strengthening of the democratic processes in every sphere of activity of the government. Bits and pieces of legislation without an overarching objective, we are afraid, will not deliver.”Issues relating to Companies ActThe letter made reference to different cases such as those involving Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Fortis Healthcare, and highlighted the fact that the genesis of most of the scams lies in the manipulation of books of accounts and blatant violations of other provisions of the Companies Act.It then spoke about the constitution of the 10-member committee by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to review the penal provisions of the Companies Act, and asserted that at a time when new skeletons are tumbling out of the closet and the deterrents should have been made stricter and wider, the Act is proposed to be decriminalised “with undue haste”. Justice Shah, therefore, wrote, “If implemented, the Act will be severely diluted and the much-needed deterrent of criminal punishment will be done away with. This must not be allowed to happen in the larger public interest. Instead several provisions need to be strengthened/ reintroduced.”Besides, he advocated for doing away with the “undesirable” practice of appointment of political nominees on PSU Boards, strengthening the provisions related to appointment of Directors, and restoring limits on political donations.Issues relating to Electoral Bonds, Amendments to Representation of Peoples Act, FCRA, RBI Act and Income Tax ActThe letter also condemned the amendments to various laws relating to political funding, asserting that these have made the process less transparent than before. The amendments, it said, pose danger to the autonomy of the country, and are bound to adversely affect national security and electoral transparency, while encouraging corrupt practices.Justice Shah stated, “The above ill conceived legislations also open up the possibility of companies being brought into existence by unscrupulous elements primarily for routing funds to political parties through anonymous and opaque instruments like electoral bonds. This has increased the opacity of funding of political parties and the danger of quid pro quo for benefits passed on to such pains or their group companies by the elected government.”Issues with Whistleblowers Act, RTI Act, and LokpalJustice Shah pointed out that the Right to Information Act, Whistleblowers Protection Act, and the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act have all been proposed to be diluted through various amendments, and wrote that these amendments severely weaken the legislations which were intended to bring in more transparency.Invisible Hand Protecting PWC and SatyamThe letter finally acknowledged that while the government is passing new laws such as Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, effective implementation of the existing laws leaves “much to be desired and dilutes their impact”. It then traced the treatment meted out to Satyam, the biggest accounting scandal till date in the history of corporate India, and pointed out that way back in 2015, a metropolitan Sessions Court in Hyderabad granted bail to Satyam Computers founder B. Ramalinga Raju and nine others including Price Waterhouse auditors and suspended their seven years rigorous imprisonment.Indicating foul play in the CBI’s neglect in appealing against the Session Court order, the letter asks, “Despite such a strong verdict in its favour, the orders of the Session Court are yet to be appealed by the CBI. At a time when top bureaucrats, ministers, former Chief of the Indian Air Force, etc. are being hauled up in Courts, it appears that an invisible hand is protecting Price Waterhouse and Satyam management. Can there be different sets of laws for the Rich and Powerful?”Summary of suggestionsJustice Shah summarised his suggestions as follows: Ministry of Corporate Affairs should put on hold the proposed hasty decriminalisation of the Companies Act, 2013 and instead hold extensive public deliberations, including consideration of the recommendations made by us, for further strengthening of the Act in the larger public interest. CBI should immediately file appeal against the orders of the Sessions Court in the Satyam scam to restore public confidence that no one is above the Rule of Law....

RTI/Lokpal: New Amendments Severely Weaken The Legislations Intended To Bring In More Transparency, Justice AP Shah Writes To PM Modi [Read The Letter]

Apoorva Mandhani

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