The Centre plans to open an “Uphaar Sangrahalaya” (Gift Museum) where all the Government functionaries will be bound to deposit the gifts they receive while discharging their duties. The guidelines to this effect have been framed and the same are expected to be shortly notified.
IAS and IPS officers have to take prior permission from the Government before accepting gifts valuing more than Rs 5,000. The bureaucrats are even required to inform the Government if they accept gifts of over Rs 25,000 from their relatives or friends.
As of now, the Prime Minister, his Council Of Ministers and senior officers are bound to deposit the gifts they receive in foreign countries in the Government’s treasure trove — Toshkhana.
According to the draft rules prepared by the Ministry of Finance and circulated to all ministries and departments, a strong room called Upahar Sangrahalaya would be established in the office of the Controller General of Accounts where Government functionaries will be bound to deposit the gifts they receive from “domestic/unknown” sources. These rules will apply to every person appointed to a civil service or posts (including a civilian in Defence Service) in connection with the affairs of the Union Government.
The proposal states that that the officers should not accept any gift in case where sanction of the Government is refused under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules. In case the gifts have been accepted by the Government functionary and sanction for the same is refused later on, the same have to be deposited in the treasure wallet. But the gifts received by the Government functionaries from near relatives and friends under the specified rules need not to be deposited with the Upahar Sangrahalay.
The decision regarding disposal of articles deposited in the Uphaar Sangrrahalay will reportedly be taken by the Joint Controller General of Accounts (Administration) of the strong room. All articles received in the Upahar Sangrahalay will reportedly be valued at the earliest by a board consisting of the Joint Controller General of Accounts, Deputy Controller General and Accounts Officer of the Administration in consultation with the Customs Appraiser. And the value assessed by the Board would be treated as the fair price of the articles.
The proposal said, “Upahar Sangrahalay articles such as jewellery etc which are not likely to be required for use or for display as laid down in Rule 14 of these rules, may be sold at their book value to anybody (an individual, a firm, a company or an association of persons), by Accounts Officer (Administration) Where an article has been in the Upahar Sangrahalay for more than two years, it should be re-valued by the Board before it is sold by the Accounts Officer.”
The proposal said the assistance of the a Scheduled Bank would be necessary for disposal of gold and diamond articles and approval of the Board should be obtained in cases where it is proposed to sell articles at reduced price. It said articles which are neither needed for any presentation or disposal should be sold by e-auction.