Supreme Court Split on Anti-Corruption Law: 17A's Fate in Balance

• A two-judge Supreme Court bench delivered a split verdict on Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, leading to a constitutional clash.
• Justice B.V. Nagarathna declared Section 17A unconstitutional, arguing it protects the corrupt and obstructs investigations, reviving protective shields previously struck down.
• Justice K.V. Viswanathan deemed Section 17A valid within a limited scope, emphasizing the need to protect honest government employees from arbitrary investigations to prevent policy paralysis.
• Section 17A mandates prior government sanction for investigating corruption allegations against public servants related to official decisions, with a 3-4 month time limit for sanction.
• The matter has been referred to Chief Justice Suryakant to constitute a larger bench, highlighting the significant legal and constitutional implications.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court judges differ on Section 17A's constitutionality, raising questions about corruption investigations and public servant protection.