Want details of discretionary powers: DoPT to ministers

DoPT Secretary Alka Sirohi has written an urgent letter to all ministries.

Less than a month after Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked her partys Union ministers and chief ministers to set an example by reviewing and relinquishing powers related to land allocation and other discretionary powers,the Union Governments Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has sought details of discretionary powers enjoyed and used by all ministers of the Government of India.

DoPT Secretary Alka Sirohi has written an urgent letter to all ministries,asking them to provide by January 14 details of discretionary powers enjoyed by the ministers. The DoPT has also sought details of the instances in which such powers were used by the ministers and senior functionaries of the ministries.

The information sent by the ministries would be placed before the newly constituted group of ministers (GoM) on corruption headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at its next meeting,which is scheduled next week.

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The other members of the eight-member GoM are Home Minister P Chidambaram,Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar,Defence Minister A K Antony,Law Minister M Veerappa Moily,HRD and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal,Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Fertiliser Minister M K Alagiri.

Speaking at the Burari Congress convention,Sonia Gandhi had said there was ample evidence that all discretionary powers,particularly in land allocation,breed corruption. I would like all Congress chief ministers and ministers both at the Centre and the states to set an example by reviewing and relinquishing powers, she had said.

Sources in DoPT said the GoM could recommend to the government to put an end to all types of discretionary powers enjoyed by the ministers.

There have been many instances where ministers and chief ministers holding discretionary powers have misused them to give undue financial benefits to members of their family and close associates.

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Recently,BJPs Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was accused of having favoured his kin with prime land in and around Bangalore. Following an uproar,his kin surrendered the lands.

Later,it was alleged that earlier CMs,including one from the Congress,had also extended similar freebies to his close associates and kin.