India Rejuvenation Initiative is an Indian anti-corruption organization formed by a group of retired and serving bureaucrats.[1]
It was among the prime movers[2] in the petition to the Supreme Court of India opposing the appointment of P. J. Thomas as Chief Vigilance Commissioner. Thomas had been charged with corruption in a 1992 case that was prevented from coming to trial since the government refused to sanction trial. After considerable controversy, the Supreme court invalidated his appointment to the CVC in March 2011.[3] Ex-Election Commissioner of India, J. M. Lyngdoh, was one of the key people in this effort. In addition to that , IRI filed petition in the Supreme Court on the issue of Black money stashed in foreign banks and locations, Cash for vote scam and on the issue of autonomy of SEBI. Recently IRI has taken up the issue of electoral reforms in its agenda and has filed a Public Interest Litigation against criminalization in politics. Supreme Court after hearing the PIL filed by IRI issued notices to GOI and states to respond within four weeks.
Other members of IRI include ex-Chief Justice of India,Justice R.C.Lahoti who in Jul 2010, protested the ineffectiveness of the CVC in protecting whistleblowers.[4] Other notable members include retired air chief Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy, ex-police chief J. F. Ribeiro, ex-CAG V.K.Shunglu, ex-Chairman UGC Dr.Hari Gautam, Former IIT Director Prof. S.K.Dube, Former DG, CSIR Prof S.K.Joshi, ex- DG of Police Prakash Singh, B.R.Lal, Taluqdar, Former Secretaries to Government of India Bhure Lal, S.A.T.Rizvi and Javid Choudhary and others.
With its strong presence in many states, it has emerged as a front runner organization to bring back probity in public life.[5]