Right to corruption free system is essential for the realization of other<br> human rights; NHRC

New Delhi 10th May 2006

The Chief Justice of India Mr. Justice Y.K.Sabharwal has called for transparency and accountability to fight the menace of corruption. Delivering the Valedictory address at the two-day national conference on "Effects of Corruption on Good Governance and Human Rights", organized by National Human Rights Commission, the Chief Justice of India asked the media and judiciary to play active role to work out concrete measures to fight corruption. He said that there is no dearth of good people in the society but what is required is their speaking out their idea. Justice Sabharwal said efforts should go on to make the criminal law apparatus more accountable.
In his presidential address Dr. Justice A.S.Anand, Chairperson, NHRC called on the civil society to shun the corrupt and begin a crusade for a new social order, free of corruption. He said that if we want a corruption free society then we have to go back to the basic education and inculcate moral and ethical values in young minds. He said we have accepted corruption as the done thing and hence basic mindset has to be changed to get rid of corruption. He asked the next generation to take up the issue of corruption and work for a corruption free society for our forthcoming generations. Justice Anand emphasized that the civil society should have zero tolerance to corruption so that our efforts do not remain rhetoric only.
Summing up the two-day deliberations Dr. Justice Shivaraj V Patil, Member, NHRC, said that right to a corruption free system is essential for the realization of other human rights. He said that the participants of the conference stressed on the need to have human rights as centre-stage to curb corruption and work for good governance. The speakers were of the opinion that corruption is one of the violators of human rights of the citizenry; that laws and rules are there but these need to be implemented effectively for a corruption free governance; that the whistle blowers need to be protected ;e-governance should be practiced and that transparency and accountability should be the basis for governance. Justice Patil said that based on deliberations during the conference the Commission will formulate recommendations which will be sent to the government of India for its consideration.
The conference organized on 9th and 10th May 2006 was inaugurated by the President of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. In his speech Dr Kalam said that government machinery can be considered corruption free only if the purpose for which the machinery is setup is fulfilled, in letter and spirit with honesty, sincerity and purposefulness. In the absence of a non-transparent corrupt system, a well-intentioned programme fails to produce the desired results, he added. Dr Kalam expressed happiness that NHRC has taken the initiative of organizing the Conference, which he said "will give very useful suggestions for improving governance in the country".
Speaking at the inaugural session the Union Home Minister Shri Shivraj Patil said making correct policies and laws, which are enforceable, is the responsibility of the government. He said that in order to stem out corruption we must correct ourselves first. He hoped that it will be possible for the Conference to show some direction to the government in its endeavour for a corruption free governance. The Home Minister assured that the government will consider accepting and implementing the recommendations of the Conference.
The two day deliberations dealt on topics like - Combating Corruption- Role of Civil Society, Field Functionaries and Media; Need for Reforms in Existing Laws and Enforcement Mechanisms.Eminent speakers included - Shri N Vittal, Prof. Raj Kumar, Adm R H Tahiliani, Prof. Ranbir Singh, Smt. Ranjana Kumar, Justice V S Malimath, Shri T S R Subramanian, Shri B G Verghese, Shri Vinod Mehta, Shri Soli Sorabjee, Shri P P Rao and Shri Chaman Lal.

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