JK

  How Independent Directors and Engineers Bridge the Gap Between Compliance and Corruption This paper examines the structural decay of oversight institutions and proposes systemic reforms to restore genuine independence in corporate boards and public projects. Executive Summary The rise of “independent” oversight—through directors in corporate boards and engineers in public projects—was meant to safeguard integrity, transparency, and public trust. Yet in practice, these guardians have become toothless tigers, symbolizing the illusion of independence in India’s governance ecosystem. Both roles were conceived as buffers against conflict of interest, but have been structurally weakened by dependence on the very entities they are meant to oversee. In corporate India, independent directors often serve at the pleasure of promoters; in public works, independent engineers rely on project authorities for contracts and payments. The result is a silent compliance economy—where wa...