Justice N Venkatachala on Thursday called on the UPA government to initiate urgent steps to curb administrative corruption in the country for the future of the country and its people, as India has become a signatory to the ‘United Nations Convention Against Corruption’.

The former chief of Lokayukta was delivering the 34th foundation day lecture on ‘Administrative Corruption in Pre and Post Independent India’ at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore on Thursday.

He said he had chosen the subject to sensitise students on the existing high degree of administrative corruption so that management students realise their responsibility. He also added that elected representatives at the centre and state must be ready to enact effective anti-corruption laws enforceable by independent institutions like the lokpal or lokayuktas, headed by men or women of well known integrity and competence.

“It is unfortunate, that independent India should have found its ranking in the corruption perception index since 1995” Mr Venkatachala noted.

“Today, if there is one central act which can be used effectively for curbing corruption among public servants, it is the Right to Information Act 2005, that is because of the provision which enables people to get copies of office notings in files relating to administrative reforms” he said. The chairman of the board of directors of the IIMB, Mukesh Ambani remained absent.