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Tripura : Bill to curb corruption |
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The Tripura government has decided to pass a bill making it mandatory for all legislators and ministers to make a declaration of their income, property and assets to the Speaker of the Assembly on being elected to the House. This is the first such bill to be passed in the Northeast.
The Bill will be placed and passed during the winter session of the Assembly.
The bill, entitled the Tripura State Legislative Assembly Member (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Bill 2006, has already been drafted for tabling during the three-day session of the House.
Das said that it was part of the state government’s consistent efforts to curb corruption in high places.
“According to the service conduct rules, declaration of annual income and assets by civil servants is compulsory, but now it is being extended to elected representatives also,” Das said, adding that there is an identical law in Tamil Nadu.
However, the new bill has already triggered off a controversy with many CPI(M) members describing it as “redundant”. They feel that at the time of filing nomination papers for elections, all candidates have to file an affidavit declaring their income and assets and subsequently, anyone found to have made a wrong declaration can be prosecuted in a court of law.
“We know that such a rule exists for MPs but enacting such a law here is unnecessary,” a source said.
Leader of the Opposition Ratanlal Nath welcomed the new bill.
“This is a result of our relentless efforts and exposure of corruption cases committed by the leaders and ministers of the Left Front. Now, we can only hope that the new law will help curb corruption in Tripura,” Nath said.
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