The President of India Pranab Mukherjee during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation at New Delhi on Saturday.
New Delhi, April 6, 2013: The President of India Pranab Mukherjee today inaugurated the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation, and said that police and investigative organisations can play a crucial role in creating conditions that could engender societal changes. He said that an alert and responsive police force and investigative agency can ensure that no crime goes unpunished.
Delivering the 14th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture organised in honour of CBI’s founder Director , The President of India said that the stature that CBI has gained over the decades is an eloquent testimony to the distinguished services rendered by its founder Director and all the directors who succeeded him and made their own contribution in building up this unique organisation.
In his address, the President emphasised the need to ensure speedy and thorough investigation of allegations, and speedy prosecution so that the guilty are punished without delay.
Pranab Mukherjee said that at the core of good governance is inviolable adherence to rule of law, and , from it emanates the critical need for participatory decision-making structure, transparency, responsiveness, accountability, equity and inclusiveness. The President stated that an important aspect of our development paradigm is empowerment through entitlement which is backed by legal enactments. He said that a rights-based approach to the development process, such as Rights to Education, Employment and Food Security are the core of such a development strategy, and, hoped that this should be implemented fully.
He said that India is at the cross roads of transformation and cannot afford to lose the momentum of change. He said that there is immense scope to better our participatory decision making structure, improve the application of rule of law, enhance transparency, increase accountability, promote greater equity and inclusiveness and improve consensus based approach.
The President also unveiled the Golden Jubilee Logo of the CBI and awarded the President’s Police medals for distinguished service and decorated the Best Detective Constable of the CBI. He also honoured the former Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for PMO and Personnel, V Narayanasamy said that the CBI has become an iconic institution in the investigation of crime and corruption. He said that the founder Director of CBI, imbibed the values of 'Industry, Impartiality and Integrity' that enabled the CBI to emerge as nation's premier investigation agency. He stated that the government has taken various measures to improve governance and integrity in public services which include measures like enacting RTI, introducing a comprehensive ‘Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011’ which is being considered by the Parliament, and ‘The Whistle Blowers Protection Bill 2011’ which was passed by the Lok Sabha and is presently with the Rajya Sabha
Narayansamy said that Corruption is a key issue in governance , and this menace can be curbed by systematic changes in governance like enhancing citizen participation and promoting transparency, accountability and probity in administration. He said that Excellence in governance can be achieved through improvement in government structures and processes, by way of promoting transparency and accountability, with emphasis on grievance redressal, innovations in e-Governance, and quick adaptation to best practices. He said that the need of the hour is efficient and effective delivery of public services.
The Director CBI, Ranjit Sinha in his welcome address said that the public expects the CBI to act with greater effectiveness and speed, and added that the Bureau needs to take note of the growing grass roots voices in the country against corruption. Director CBI said that the Bureau has to prepare to work across the globe as Mutual Legal Assistance requests, Letters Rogatory, Extradition and other areas of multi-jurisdictional investigation are set to expand in volume and complexity. He said that the increasing engagement of the Indian economy with ASEAN, EU and SAARC member countries is expected to have major implications on the nature of CBI’s work.
Director CBI said that the Bureau will use the Golden jubilee year to thoroughly assess its existing affairs and frame a plan on building the CBI of the future that is at par with the finest law enforcement institutions of the world. Sinha said that as part of the proposed road map for the Golden jubilee celebrations spread over the year 2013-14, it is planned to reach out to the citizens at large by showcasing the history and work of CBI. The Director said that for the first time, CBI would hold an International anti-corruption conference inviting experts from leading international law enforcement bodies as also representatives from National institutions like Planning Commission, Enforcement Directorate, FIU, SEBI etc. He added that, in order to constantly upgrade standards and processes of investigation, technology and forensics, the CBI wishes to start a mechanism to promote research in various areas of our work by collaborating with the eminent institutions like National Law Universities, IITs and IIMs. The CBI Academy would also undertake MOUs with leading world class training bodies to upgrade the knowledge and skill of our personnel, Sinha added.
On this occasion, the CBI officers who were decorated with the President’s Police Medal by the Pranab Mukherjee President of India are Keshav Kumar, Joint Director, CBI, Mumbai; N.S.Kharayat, Assistant Director(Interpol), CBI, New Delhi; Javed Siraj, SP, CBI, SC-II, New Delhi; Ravinder Singh Jaggi, ASP, CBI, SU, New Delhi; Jeet Singh, Inspector, CBI Academy, Ghaziabad(UP) and Rajender Kumar Gaur, Inspector, Information Section, CBI(HQ), New Delhi. Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Constable, ACB, CBI, Jammu was also honoured with the D.P.Kohli Best Detective Constable Award for the year 2012.