India, Nov. 23 -- A stringent anti-corruption law is the "need of the hour" as corruption is making the country hollow, the Centre has told a five judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court that examined whether public servants can be prosecuted for bribery if bribe givers fail to record their statements or turn hostile.

"It [corruption] strikes at the root of national interest and these stringent provisions [under the Prevention of Corruption Act] should be given its full meaning," additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared for the Centre in the matter, told a bench of justices S Abdul Nazeer, BR Gavai, AS Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian and BV Nagarathna on Tuesday .

The bench concluded the hearing and reserved its judgm...