Corrupts, Corruption and Corruptibility

Corrupt, corruption and corruptibility are some of the few words that have become fashionable in this country. It is not that these words were not in vogue during the erstwhile regime, however, the rate of recurrence of the said words coming across the media headlines have definitely greater than before over these democratic years.

Corrupt is the one who accepts inducements from some one who wishes to get his or her things done at the hands of the powers that be that have been delegated legal authority to clear up the matter if the applicant(s) have approached in a legal and rightful manner. It is an altogether a different matter that Nepali authorities accept bribes even if the one approaching them is equipped with all the required legal documents. The general excuse here is given that it might take weeks and weeks to come to a conclusion and thus the person for fear of getting late in his or her business prefers to hush-hush the matter through under table dealings and gets his things done.

Corruption thus is a process that involves under table dealings wherein the government authorities coil the laws of the land and allow the petitioner to proceed with their projects or whatsoever in lieu of bulky amounts. Corruptibility is slightly different than corrupt and the process of corruption.

Corruptibility is a relative matter indeed. However, this perhaps is a measure to judge as to what extent one could be made corrupt and made to yield to the dictates of the one who approaches the authorities to get his or her things done, be it in a legal or even illegal manner. Some possess high corruptibility and some might not be to that degree. Thus it is a relative matter but then in Nepal's case let's assume, given the experiences of the past thirteen democratic years, most of the government bureaucrats, ministers and even prime ministers at one time or the other could have been bribed by some influential business personalities. Had it not been the case then why are the hullabaloo about Dhamija, China SouthWest, Chase air scandals hitting media headlines? Unless there is fire there wouldn't be smoke.

Corrupts could be seen everywhere. The concentration of these corrupts is extremely high in Singh Durbar. Practically all the ministries and departments have been blessed with their overwhelming presence. Thanks the system and the men handling the system that such corrupts have flourished and been making the citizens to feel their gracious presence in all places. This means that when we have the corrupts then we must have acts of corruption and indeed it is there for all to see. What is being said of corruption is that during the Panchayat days, acts of fraud were finalized in the dark. However, in democratic years this is done over the table. All these put together what is clear is that corruptibility in Nepali could have also increased over the years. Very good omen for the country if it were to be declared a failed state.

What of the apparatus in the country to control such acts of corruption? For namesake we have one commission called the CIAA which prefers to sleep most of the times but when it awakes creates ripples in the country. The process is indeed slow to the extent that people at times suspect its very credentials and desirability. But then yet the Commission has been able to create a sort of terror in the minds of those who have abused the authority while in power.

After nearly two years of the CIAA's actions against some government officials, the Commission has come out of its slumber and just the other day managed to file three separate cases of corruption against, this time indeed, some noted top-hats of the Police departments. The amount that these high placed police officials have amassed while in power is not only unbelievable but mind boggling as well. Now that they have been told to appear in the court, let's see how the CIAA defends its case against the police top bureaucrat and by the same token how the officials held doubtful appeal for their innocence? The disturbing portion of the CIAA's actions are that more often than not its cases against the defaulters or for that matter the corrupts in the courts are summarily rejected by the courts thus providing a major jolt to the functioning of the Commission itself.

The tragedy has been that even if the courts order the government to nab the corrupts, the latter turns deaf ears to court's orders as is the case with former minister Mr. Wagley. Wagley is walking around Katmandu's thoroughfares freely and providing an impression that he was above the law. Indeed he is above the laws of the land or else he would have been by this time behind the bars.

Happily, some more high-level bureaucrats from the ministries of Physical planning and Development and Water resources are to be tried by the CIAA within a short period is a news that was long overdue. Let's wait and see.

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