The Hindu’s (Saturday, November 27, 2010) editorial by N.Ram on the 2G Spectrum scandal is an impressive and thought-provoking piece. He has rightly questioned the inordinate delay and the reluctance on the part of UPA Government in the center in setting up a JPC for a detailed probe into the scam. After all it is going to be another fact-finding approach but having a mischievous potential for embarrassment on a continuing basis to the Congress and its government. That explains the predicament of the Congress leadership at the present juncture. But the adamancy with which the entire opposition is supporting the AIADMK is likely to succeed in its attempt with a condition from the side of the ruling coalition government for the total coverage of the National Telecom Policy 1994 and its implementation since then. I think that should be fair enough for the parties engaged in the current imbroglio although the fate of such a probe may be like that of Bofors scandal over a period of time. N.Ram pleads for a time-bound procedure for arriving at the conclusion by the JPC so that it can prove to be a fruitful exercise. But given the conditions in India it might only be a wishful thinking for the better.
Ratan Tata’s suggestion for a probe by an auditor seems to be born out of his ignorance or out of his instant reaction to the media coverage of his role on the appointment of central ministers as an outburst without taking assistance from his legal experts. After all there can’t be an auditor who is superior in status and leverage compared to the CAG. As a sequel to this development a question arises as to how effectively the CAG office and his paraphernalia can prove its utility and justify its existence at such a cost to the state exchequer if its report to the Parliament is to be taken up by one or more committees.
JPC might be interested to know whether the minster has transgressed his power and the officials have sincerely followed the rules of business and the principles of integrity and fair-play in their official dealings but they can’t punish any wrongdoer on its own .For that, one has to approach the criminal court. So why not approach the court directly on the basis of a report submitted by a constitutional authority with a list of documents and witnesses for a special and summary trial for a conclusion and judgment in a few months' time and tell the nation that the government means business and exhibits transparency in governance, normally and invariably promised on the eve of General Elections.
It is for the judiciary to finally decide whether the conduct of public servants was above board and if not the extent of punishment due to them under the statutes. Ratan Tata feels bad on the type of media assault he is facing today. The conduct of some media personnel as revealed by Radia tapes shows the immaturity and the biased nature of reporting some of them have been indulging in India. Thousands of innocent and well-meaning Indians have been prosecuted and persecuted blindly by media pundits on the basis of half-baked truths so far. Rogues are roaming freely on Indian roads whereas the true nationalists and principled Indians are sitting idle and facing hardships.
It all depends what we want in the final analysis – Speedy trial and quick redress & justice or a political game serving the interests of warring groups in Indian polity and protecting the personal interests of powerful politicians.
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