Tightening the noose around corrupt officials, the Narendra Modi Government has instructed every Ministry to prepare a dossier of corrupt officials of their respective departments to initiate action against them. The Home Ministry has dispatched letters to vigilance departments of all Ministries and the paramilitary forces to furnish the list by August 5 so that further action can be initiated.
According to sources, the lists have to be sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which will monitor the conduct of tainted officials, keep close watch on them and take necessary action to prosecute or recommend departmental action including major penalty, demotion or even dismissal from service.
“The list will include names of those officers, who, after enquiry or during the course enquiry, have been found to be lacking in integrity, such as officer convicted in court of law on the charge of lack of integrity or moral turpitude, awarded departmentally a major penalty on charges of lack of integrity or gross dereliction of duty in protecting the interest of the Government,” said the office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to the Ministries on July 21, 2017.
This list will also include the names of officers who are facing complaints against their integrity or honesty. “Such lists should be should be forwarded to the Ministry with the approval of Head of the organisation for further necessary action, the memorandum added.
It also asked departments to prepare the 'agreed list' in consultation with CBI, said the memorandum, adding the Ministries should ensure that these corrupt officers are not posted in the insensitive/corruption-prone areas.
“These exercises are among the key agenda which are also monitored at the level of Cabinet Secretary and CVC. Therefore, preparation of these lists and taking further follow-up action on them are to be accorded due priority,” it said.
Earlier the exercise to prepare such lists was undertaken in 2016 and consolidated lists were sent to the CBI for finalising them as per extant procedures. “CBI has now desired that since the lists are old and the position might have changed during the period, the revised lists from each organisation be prepared and sent to them for necessary action,” It added.
The DoPT had earlier amended Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, and decided time-line for critical stages of investigation and enquiry proceedings. The Inquiring Authority should conclude the inquiry and submit its report within a period of six months, says the amended rules. However, an extension for a period not exceeding six months at a time may be allowed for any good and sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing by the disciplinary authority, it said.