Standards of accountability should be made realistic: Jaitley

New Delhi Sep 1 (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday called for freeing public servants from strict accountability laws which he said should be kept realistic.

"Public servants should be confident enough to take decisions. Standards of accountability should be made realistic " Jaitley said while delivering a memorial lecture here.

He said that there is a need to revise the laws with respect to public servants whether working in banks government or any public sphere.

The Finance Minister specially mentioned the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 which was "framed three years before 1991 under the era of regulation".

"The definition of corruption is so wide that even if some public servant takes a step in good faith honestly he cannot be sure whether he will be pulled up years later for that action. Many retired public servants have had to face harassment in such a manner " Jaitley said.

Government cannot function is such an atmosphere of "distrust" he added.

--IANS
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