The Hindu : National : Use e-governance to fight corruption: Kalam

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Wednesday, May 10, 2006

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National

Use e-governance to fight corruption: Kalam

Staff Correspondent

"All courts should follow Supreme Court and make judgments available online"

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam interacting with Justice A.S. Anand, chairman, NHRC at a conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: E-governance is strong tool for ensuring corruption-free administration, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said here on Tuesday. He was delivering the inaugural address at a conference on `Effects of Good Governance and Human Rights,' organised by the National Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Kalam cited the Delhi metro rail system and online railway reservation system as examples of good governance. He lauded the Karnataka Lok Ayukta's work in fighting corruption. All courts should follow the example of the Supreme Court and high courts and make their judgments available online. "This should be facilitated by the Law Ministry and the higher judiciary." Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the Right to Information Act could be used to ensure transparency. "However, this law has to be used carefully, and not for ulterior purposes," he warned.

NHRC Chairperson Justice A.S. Anand said the Commission believed that corruption was a potent violator of human rights, particularly the economic and social rights of individuals. He urged the Government to ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption that came into force in December 2005.

"The Convention deals with crucial aspects of corruption. It is a significant step towards meeting the challenge of corruption. Let not India delay in joining the global war (against corruption)," he said.

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