A law called the SINGLE DIRECTIVE
About 10 years ago, parliament passed a bill called "The Single Directive ". In effect it is
a bill that says that if the CBI wants to investigate a government officer of Jt secretary
rank and above ( this includes ministers ), it must first get permission from the government.
Cleverly missed out in the bill is a TIME LIMIT to give permission. !!
This law is one of the most important factors to promote corruption in high places.
Because, as long as no permission is given, the CBI cannot move against that official,
even just to investigate, no matter how strong the suspicions are.
There are hundreds of CBI requests for permission pending with the government
for which no permission is still awaited. It is a very tactical way to protect the corrupt.
If this law was not there, probably the 2 G scam would not have taken place.
This law is also used as a tool to get support from other corrupt regional parties
ruling in other states, whose ministers and high level bureaucrats are hand in glove
in corruption.
Readers should know about this law.
In the proposed Lok Pal Bill, one of the important demands made by Team Anna
was to cancel this bill by removing the need for permission for the CBI to
investigate suspected corrupt netas and high officials.
The government agreed to that demand.
