India to ratify UN Convention against Corruption

New Delhi (PTI) - India Monday said the
ratification of UN Convention Against Corruption was currently
underway and was likely to be "completed soon."
The remarks by the External Affairs Ministry came on
the heels of questions being asked about India not ratifying
the UN convention which it had signed six years back raising
doubts about its commitment to fight corruption.
"India along with fellow UN members had signed the UN
Convention Against Corruption in 2005. The ratification
process is currently underway and is likely to be completed
soon," official spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said.
The Convention has been inked by 140 countries.
The convention, if ratified, could have made it easier
for India to repatriate billions of dollars in black money
alleged to have been stashed away overseas.
However, before ratifying the UN Convention,
government has to make changes in domestic laws to have more
transparency in funding election campaigns and political
parties among other crucial legislative steps to bring it at
par with the international instrument.
According to the UN convention, "each State Party
shall also consider adopting appropriate legislative and
administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of
this Convention and in accordance with the fundamental
principles of its domestic law, to prescribe criteria
concerning candidature for and election to public office."
It also prescribes disciplinary or other measures
against public officials who violate the codes or standards
established in accordance with this article.