Proposed law terms seeking 'sexual favour' corruption

 Seeking “sexual favour” can be considered as bribe and can attract penalty under a new law proposed by a Parliamentary Committee.

In its report on the new anti-corruption bill, the select committee of Rajya Sabha has endorsed Law Commission’s report and recommended inclusion of “undue advantage” in a relevant provision of the proposed legislation to cover “any gratification other than legal remuneration”, including sexual favours, to explain offence relating to public servant being bribed.

In a first, the Parliamentary Committee has recommended criminalising private sector bribery by bringing in corporates and their executives in the ambit of the proposed anti-corruption law and recommended jail term of up to seven years along with fine.

Besides, it has suggested punishment for bribe givers too. The instances of graft are covered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. To enlarge the definition of taking bribe and cover private sector bribery, the government has decided to introduce Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013. The term used in the bill to define bribery related offences was “financial or other advantage”. In November last year, some official amendments were moved to replace the term “financial or other advantage” with “undue advantage”.