Jharkhand is set to enter into the league of States where full-fledged anti-corruption mechanism is in place. The Cabinet on Tuesday okayed Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which would replace the existing Vigilance Bureau.
The ACB in its incarnation would be strengthened and the guidelines set for it say that it can initiate process suo moto against graft complaints or about disproportionate assets against elected representatives or public servants. It can also apply trap methods to nail any suspect.
“Total seven thanas, one at every Division, one at Dhanbad and one existing would come into existence as ACB. SP rank official would man the all. Earlier, there was no separate PS or vigilance cell was there for the cases relating to corruption and involving public servants and elected representatives,” said Additional Chief Secretary and Cabinet Secretary NN Pandey.
One Special Cell with territorial boundary covering entire State and headed by a SP rank official would look into important and larger corruption cases. This PS would exclusively deal with such corruption case in dedicate manner.
A prosecution cell would be setup at Bureau HQ in which Public Prosecutor and Additional PP would be appointed. At every bureau PS seven APPs would be deployed to deal with legal procedure. A committee headed by Vigilance Commissioner would select the team of legal officials.
ACB in the charges of corruption against public servants would act independently and secretly, including collection of information and verification. “Till now Cabinet Vigilance Department’s prior approval was required for even that. Now, the ACB on its own motion can collect and verify cases,” added Pandey. In the case of collusive corruption, the ACB can raid the offices in question based on the information with it.
Most important part of the entire guidelines is checks and balances kept for elected representatives and public servants. “Prior approval of the Chief Minister through the Chief Secretary is needed to be taken for initiating preliminary investigation against elected representatives. Similarly, for the officials of Class 1, All India Services and departmental heads prior permission of the CM through CS would be required,” said Pandey.
For the cases against other first class officials, the CS through Vigilance Commissioner can give the permission to start primary investigation. Whereas for Class 2 officials the Vigilance Commissioner can approve the proposal. Bureau head of the ACB, which may be IG, ADG, DG, would permit cases for Class 3 and 4 officials.
Adding further Vigilance IG Ml Meena said that the entire process would be kept secret. “The ACB would be free to lay trap against all officials. No official or elected representative is out of the ambit of the ACB. It does not need any prior approval for information gathering and its certification which is the first stage. Second stage is initiating preliminary investigation where approval is required as per the set procedure. Third stage comes if the case stands and needed to be filled. Here as well, the similar approval procedure would be followed.”
Existing Vigilance Bureau that had 350 post, the new ACB can have 608 posts. New posts to be created for two of DIG, three of SP, seven for DSP, 38 Inspectors, one PP, eight APP, 19 SI and 92 constables. The officials working with ACB would also get allowance 25 per cent of basic pay for good job. It is expected that the encouragement would attract competent officials into the Bureau.