New Delhi:
With the Centre pushed to a corner over several scams, the government is now planning to introduce steps to tackle the menace of corruption at the highest level.
The Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption will soon recommend the removal of discretionary quota in all the ministries.
Out of the 54 ministries, 38 ministries have discretionary quota. These discretionary powers have been, on numerous occasions, been misused to shower favours.
The move comes after UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, at the party's plenary session in the national capital, had called for removal of discretionary powers of ministers in a bid to tackle rising corruption.
According to the new rules, any officer charged with grave corruption charges will be summarily dismissed.
The sanction of prosecution will also have to be decided within three months.
The Prime Minister has written letters to all Chief Ministers to set up Lok Ayukta. So far, only seventeen states have it.
He has also asked for ombudsman in municipalities and panchayats, something that only Kerala has so far.