Stung by a series of scams, the government has asked the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption to consider steps like scrapping of discretionary powers of ministers and the need for a probe agency to seek the nod of government before starting inquiry against a senior official.
The seven-point terms of reference of the GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, also include fast-tracking of all cases of public servants accused of corruption and ensuring full transparency in public procurement and contracts, including enunciation of public procurement standards and a public procurement policy.
The terms of reference are on the lines of the five-point action plan outlined by Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the AICC Plenary here last month to fight corruption.
State-funding fo elections, introduction of an open and competitive system of exploiting natural resources and amendment to Article 311 of the Constitution to provide for summary proceedings in case of grave misdemeanor or blatant corruption by public servants are the other terms of reference of the GoM set up on January 6.
The GoM, which will also suggest administrative actions to tackle corruption and improve transparency, has been asked to submit its recommendations within 60 days.
According to the terms of reference, the GoM will "consider and advise" on "consideration of relevance/need for Section 6(A) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946."
The Section 6(A) says that an inquiry against a government employee of the level of Joint Secretary and above shall not be conducted into any offence alleged to have been
committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act "except with the previous approval of the Central government".
Relinquishing discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers at the Centre is another key term of reference of the eight-member GoM which also includes P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, M Veerappa Moily, Kapil Sibal, Mamata Banerjee and M K Alagiri.
Gandhi's prescription included fast-tracking all cases against public servants including politicians, taking forward the proposal of state-funding of elections, legislative and clear procedures to ensure transparency in public procurement and shedding of discretionary powers by chief ministers and all ministers, including at the Centre.
She had also suggested an open competitive system of exploiting natural resources.
The government has been facing an onslaught from the Opposition over a series of scams, including those involving 2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing Society of Mumbai.
The Opposition has been relentlessly pressing for formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe these scams but the government has resisted it.