Former Law Commission chairman A P Shah has asked prime minister Narendra Modi to act against corruption and sought shielding of Companies Act, 2013 from dilution. Appointment of Lokpal, implementation of Whistleblowers Act, stopping the practice of sending political leaders to PSU boards and putting the cap on funding of political parties by companies are some of his other demands.

The former chief justice of Delhi High Court in a letter written on behalf of anti-corruption watchdog Citizens Whistle Blowers Forum (CWBF) highlighted various instances that have diluted the fight against corruption.

Justice Shah cited that decriminalisation of Companies Act was not a step in the right direction as it was meant to curb corruption in wake of the Satyam scam. He said the government’s decision on July 18 this year to form a committee to review the punishment in the Act was in inappropriate. “The committee will evaluate if the existing compoundable offences can be treated as mere ‘civil offences’ and if the existing non-compoundable offences can be categorised as compoundable,” he said.

“If implemented, the Act will be severely dilute and the much-needed deterrent of criminal punishment will be done away with. This must not be allowed in public interest,” he added.

In a commentary on the functioning of the Modi government, Justice Shah said that it was sad that PSUs were being dealt with utter callousness. He also pointed out that at least 10 BJP politicians or spokespersons were nominated to the board of government-run companies. He singled out Sambit Patra , who is on ONGC board and Shazia Ilmi who is on Engineers India board.

Justice Shah also pointed out that lifting the cap of 7.5 per cent of the company’s average three-year net profit for political donations only adds to the odds of conflict of interest. He said the companies are no longer required to disclose the names of the parties to which political donations are made.
The government has sought Parliament approval to inject Rs 980 crore into ailing national carrier Air India during the current fiscal year, after efforts to find a buyer for its 76 per cent stake in the carrier failed.

The government is seeking the nod to spend Rs 1,791.62 crore for the agriculture ministry, Rs 1,500 crore of the textiles ministry and Rs 1,057.84 crore for the defence ministry.

The government is also seeking Rs 1,708 crore for the petroleum ministry. The money would be given towards grants for the creation of capital assets under various schemes.

As per the document tabled in Parliament, the government has sought approval to spend Rs 463.31 crore for the food and public distribution ministry. Among others, the amount would be used for the creation of a buffer stock of sugar. Under the head ‘technical supplementary demands for gran-ts’, the government has sou-ght Rs 980 crore for infusion of equity in Air India under the “turnaround plan”.