Current Affairs - Bills and Acts - Discussion

Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was introduced through the 2018 amendment with the objective of protecting honest public servants from frivolous and vexatious investigations related to decisions taken in good faith. It mandates that investigative agencies obtain prior approval from the competent authority before initiating an inquiry or investigation into official acts of a public servant. The provision has sparked intense legal debate, as reflected in the Supreme Court’s split verdict balancing the need to safeguard bureaucratic decision-making while ensuring that anti-corruption investigations remain independent, effective, and consistent with the constitutional principle of equality before law.