NEW DELHI, Nov 11 � Maintaining that economic growth implies greater opportunity for corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told the CBI it was important that errors of judgement were distinguished from criminal acts, reports PTI.
With his government�s image battered by a series of graft allegations, including in the coal scam that has even sought to draw the PMO into its vortex, Singh said some decisions which appear sensible at the time of being taken may turn out to be faulty later.
�Our administrative setup has to be so managed that the fear of the unknown must not lead to paralysis in decision-making,� he said inaugurating an international conference organised by CBI on its golden jubilee celebrations.
In the public debate on corruption in India, Singh said, it is sometimes forgotten that economic growth also implies greater opportunity for corruption.
�It is important that we look at the issue of corruption in the correct perspective. While we must maintain utmost vigilance in preventing corruption and do our utmost in ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life, it is also important to ensure that the work of nation building goes on at a reasonably fast pace,� he said.
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, in his speech however, said while there is a need for fast economic growth necessitating quick decisions on exploitation of natural resources, the challenge for policy makers is to do in a manner that there is no scope for impropriety.
Singh said public debate on corruption also needs to concentrate a little more on what it would take to make progress even faster.
�It also needs to concentrate more on the achievements that we can legitimately be proud of. We can�t be all the time just running down institutions of governance because there have been some cases of wrongdoing,� he said.
Singh said decision-making in a world of uncertainty �is a highly risky operation�.
�While actions that prima facie show malafide intent or pecuniary gain should certainly be questioned, pronouncing decisions taken with no ill-intention within the prevailing policy as criminal misconduct would certainly be flawed and excessive,� the Prime Minister said.
Singh�s comment came in the backdrop of an FIR registered by the CBI against former Coal Secretary PC Parakh accusing him of criminal misconduct for allegedly reversing his decision on allocation of the Talabira coal block to Hindalco.
