The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA, 1988) is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted to combat corruption in government agencies and public sector businesses in India.
The PCA 1988 has gone through many amendments in order to better implement it. This article will highlight the features of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also shed light on the amendments implemented.
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Highlights of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
The Prevention of Corruption Act was enacted in order to fight corruption and other malpractices in government and public sector business in India.Under PCA, 1988 the Central Government has the power to appoint judges to investigate and try those cases where the following offences have been committed
- Offences punishable under the act
- A conspiracy to commit or an attempt to commit the offences specified under the act
The following are the offences specified under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as their subsequent punishments:
| Punishments and Offences under PCA, 1988 | |
| Offences | Punishments |
| Taking gratification other than legal remuneration | Those found guilty shill face imprisonment of 6 months extendable upto 5 years. A fine shall also be levied |
| Taking gratification with the purpose of influencing a public servant, through illegal and corrupt means | Imprisonment for not less than three years which is expandable upto seven years. A fine shall also be levied. |
| Taking gratification with the purpose of wielding personal influence with public servant | Imprisonment not less than 6 months extendable upto 5 years. A fine shall also be levied |
| Act of criminal misconduct by the public servant | Imprisonment not less than 1year expandable upto 7 years. A fine shall also be levied |
Investigation shall be done by a police officer not below the rank of:
- In the case of Delhi, of an Inspector of Police.
- In metropolitan areas, of an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
- Elsewhere, a Deputy Superintendent of Police or an officer of equivalent rank shall investigate any offence punishable under this Act without the order of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a magistrate of first class, or make any arrest therefore without a warrant.
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Amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
Two amendment acts have been passed for the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. One in 2013 and the other in 2018. The highlights of both the amendment acts are given below:
Highlights of the 2013 amendment act:
- Bribery was made a punishable offence. A person who was compelled to bribe, should he/she report this incident to the law enforcement within seven days shall not be charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Two types of offences were covered under the amended criminal misconduct. The offences are illicit enrichment as in amassing wealth disproportionate to one’s income sources and fraudulent misappropriation of property.
- The amendments were made taking prior approval of the relevant government authority to conduct any investigation regarding any offences allegedly conducted by public cases. However, if the offender has been arrested on the spot for taking bribes, then this approval is not needed.
- The Trial Limit for cases under PCA was fixed within two years if it is handled by a special judge. The total period for the trial should last only four years.
Highlights of the 2018 amendment act are as follows:
- Bribery is a specific and a direct offence
- Anyone taking bribes will face imprisonment for 3 to 7 years along with being levied a fine
- Those giving bribes can also be punished with imprisonment for upto 7 years and levied a fine.
- The 2018 amendment creates a provision to protect those who have been forced to pay a bribe in the event the matter is reported to law enforcement agencies within 7 days.
- It redefines criminal misconduct and will now only cover misappropriation of property and possession of disproportionate assets.
- It proposes a ‘shield’ for government servants, including those retired, from prosecution by making it mandatory for investigating agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation to take prior approval from a competent authority before conducting an inquiry against them.
- However, it states that such permissions shall not be necessary for cases involving the arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to accept any undue advantage for himself or for any other person.
- In any corruption case against a public servant, the factor of “undue advantage” will have to be established.
- The trial in cases pertaining to the exchange of bribes and corruption should be completed within two years. Further, even after reasoned delays, the trial cannot exceed four years.
- It covers bribe-giving commercial organisations to be liable for punishment or prosecution. However, charitable institutions have been left out of their ambit.
- It provides powers and procedures for the attachment and forfeiture of a corruption-accused public servant’s property.
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988- Download PDF Here
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