A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court of India asking the Court to give directions to the Centre, states, and union territories to set up expert committees. These committees will aim to suggest steps for improving India's extremely low ranking on the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI). 

Transparency International ranks India at 80th position among 180 countries

India is ranked on the 80th position among 180 countries and territories in the CPI report prepared by Transparency International. The rankings are based on the perceived levels of public sector corruption in countries, according to experts and business people. Labelling corruption as an insidious plague, BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay filed a petition in Supreme Court. The PIL seeks formation of expert committees to analyse the best practices of the top-ranked countries so that steps can be taken to drive out bribery, black money and other deep-rooted corrupt practices.

Corruption undermines democracy leading to human right violations

"The one common object is to promote the well-being of the society as a whole. It is impossible to achieve the great golden goals of Preamble without curbing corruption, the greatest menace to democracy-development," states the petition. 

Furthermore, the petitioner has emphasised that corruption is instrumental in undermining democracy and rule of law in the state. It leads to human rights violations, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life. A corrupt society facilitates a congenial environment for organised crimes. The high degree of corruption in society also poses a threat to human security and promotes inequality and injustice.

50 % of the population facing hardships due to corruption

The PIL argues that the rule of law guaranteed under the Constitution cannot be guaranteed without curbing corruption and that Centre and the states are ‘not taking appropriate steps’. The plea has also asked the Court to direct the Law Commission to suggest steps to remove the menace of corruption, black money circulation, and 'benami' transactions. 

Mr Upadhay claims that 50% population is facing hardships even after 73 years of independence due to rampant corrupt practices prevailing in the Indian society.