06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

Government Corruption and Transparency ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19855]

"Corruption was endemic in the executive and legislative branches of government. Transparency International (TI) determined that corruption was "all-pervasive." According to a June 2005 TI study, the police ranked highest in the corruption index. There was widespread public perception of corruption in the government. In June 2005 Transparency International and Centre for Media Studies issued the India Corruption Study and reported that approximately 62 percent of citizens believed they had experienced corruption firsthand by paying bribes or using a contact to get a job done in public office.[...]On August 7, the Justice Pathak Committee indicted former external affairs minister Natwar Singh and his son, Jagat Singh, for their role in influencing and facilitating the procurement of oil contacts in Iraq.  The 2005 Right to Information Act (RTI) mandated stringent penalties for failure to provide information or affecting its flow and required agencies to self-reveal sensitive information. The act's entry into force in October 2005 marked a departure from the culture of secrecy that traditionally surrounded rule making. The appointment of an independent civil servant with close ties to the Congress leadership as RTI Commissioner suggested the UPA government was committed to the full implementation of the law. While the government took extended periods of time to reply to information requests, local community members began using RTI to get information on their personal documentation and city plans.  In July the government launched a national antibribery campaign to raise public awareness of the right to information."

Document(s): Open document

10.01.2006 - Source: Reporters Sans Frontières

Assam: Correspondent of regional daily Asomiya Khaba killed, allegedly at behest of forest warden he criticised in several articles ("Young journalist murdered in Assam after criticising forest warden") [#41512],  [ID 8104]

Document(s): Open document

10.01.2006 - Source: Committee to Protect Journalists

Assam: Journalist Prahlad Goala killed after writing about corruption in the daily Asomiya Khabar ("Journalist killed in Assam after writing about corruption") [#41582],  [ID 8105]

Document(s): Open document

08.2005 - Source: Freedom House

Corruption in the political system ("Freedom in the World 2005") [#41316],  [ID 8106]

"[...]Despite the vibrancy of the Indian political system, effective and accountable rule continues to be undermined by political infighting, pervasive criminality in politics, decrepit state institutions, and widespread corruption. Transparency International's 2004 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked India in 90th place out of 145 countries. The electoral system depends on black money that is obtained though tax evasion and other means. Politicians and civil servants are regularly caught accepting bribes or engaging in other corrupt behavior, but are rarely prosecuted. Moreover, criminality is a pervasive feature of political life, with a number of candidates with criminal records being elected, particularly in the state legislatures. In 2002, the ECI was able to implement a Supreme Court directive requiring candidates seeking election to declare their financial assets, criminal records, and educational backgrounds. However, in June, The Economist reported that 100 of the 545 recently elected members of the national legislature were facing criminal charges.[...]
Corruption in the judiciary is reportedly rife, and access to justice by the socially and economically marginalized sections of society remains limited. The court system is severely backlogged and understaffed, which results in the detention of a large number of persons who are awaiting trial. In April 2003, the government-appointed Malimath Committee recommended an overhaul of the Indian criminal justice system. However, rights groups expressed concern that its proposals would weaken the rights of the accused and of women while increasing the power of judges and the police.[...]"

Document(s): Open document

25.04.2005 - Source: BBC News

Federal railways minister charged for alleged role in corruption case known as the fodder scam; minister believes charges against him are politically motivated ("India rail minister to face trial") [#31535],  [ID 8107]

Document(s): Open document

05.08.2004 - Source: BBC News

Andhra Pradesh: a court in the southern state has withdrawn a warrant for the arrest of a federal minister over alleged misuse of election funds ("Court reprieve for India minister") [#24603],  [ID 8108]

Document(s): Open document

07.06.2004 - Source: BBC News

Bihar: 4 people arrested in connection with the murder of an engineer that exposed corruption in a road building project ("Four arrested over Bihar murder") [#23158],  [ID 8109]

Document(s): Open document

20.05.2004 - Source: BBC News

Abdul Karim Telgi alleged to have been at the centre of a multi-million dollar fraud case in south and central India has been remanded in custody for 10 days ("Indian fraud suspect remanded") [#22474],  [ID 8110]

Document(s): Open document

16.04.2004 - Source: BBC News

Uttar Pradesh state: Election Commission has ordered the state government to file a bribery case against politician Lalji Tandon after a fatal stampede ("Bribe case follows India stampede") [#21495],  [ID 8111]

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003 ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19765],  [ID 8112]

"The judiciary is independent; however, the judiciary was underfunded, overburdened, and NGOs alleged that corruption influenced court decisions. [...]

Police corruption undermined efforts to combat trafficking in women and children (see Section 6.f.). [...]

NGOs and human rights activists alleged that the police often committed human rights violations with impunity and that corruption was pervasive. The NHRC reported that the majority of complaints received were against the police. The Malimuth Committee on Judicial Reform issued a report during the year that proposed some police reform, which has yet to be implemented. [...]

In December, Randeep Sudan, a senior official in the office of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, filed defamation charges in his personal capacity against the daily newspaper Andhra Jyody. The newspaper had reported that Sudan was corrupt but also published his response to the allegations. [...]

On July 27, Anirudh Bahal and Mathew Samuel, both reporters with the on-line newspaper Tehelka.com were arrested and charged with conspiracy in connection with a story published on the Web site in October 2000. Tarun Tejpal, founder and editor-in-chief of the Web site, says that Tehelka.com is "a victim of competing political interest in a largely corrupt Indian establishment." [...]

The law prohibits trafficking in persons; however, trafficking in persons was a significant problem. NGOs alleged that corruption at the enforcement level helps to perpetuate the problem. The country was a significant source, transit point, and destination for numerous trafficked persons, primarily for the purposes of prostitution and forced labor. [...]

Poverty, illiteracy, and lack of employment opportunities contributed to the trafficking problem, although organized crime was a common element in all trafficking incidents, as was police corruption and collusion. Although corruption was endemic in the country, there was no known anti-corruption initiative that was linked specifically to corruption as it related to trafficking during the year. NGOs alleged that ignorance, a lack of political resolve to tackle it, and corruption at the enforcement level perpetuated the problem. [...]

Although the police were charged with enforcing the country's laws on prostitution and trafficking in women and children, NGOs, observers, and sex workers have viewed police actions as part of the problem. Sex workers in Mumbai and Calcutta claimed that harassment, extortion, and occasional arrests on soliciting charges usually characterized police intervention. NGOs, victims, and the media continued to identify corruption at the enforcement level as an impediment to swifter and fairer justice for trafficked women and children."

Document(s): Open document

09.02.2004 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Maharashtra: Mr. Godwin who has challenged the corruption in the society for several years received death threats; his sister was kidnapped ("Death threats to Mr. James T. Godwin and kidnapping of Ms. Violet Godwin [Case IND 090204]") [#19329],  [ID 8113]

Document(s): Open document

02.02.2004 - Source: BBC News

Bihar: 2 men being questioned over the murder of an engineer, who complained of corruption in a major road-building project, have committed suicide ("Suicides in Indian murder case") [#19142],  [ID 8114]

Document(s): Open document

13.11.2002 - Source: International Freedom of Expression Exchange

Assam: police harassment and intimidation of journalist and human rights activist Lachit Bordoloi, allegedly for his coverage of police corruption in Nagaon District ("PEN concerned for the safety of journalist and human rights activist Lachit Bordoloi") [#9653],  [ID 8115]

Document(s): Open document