Punjab Government has decided in principle that a Government employee above 50 years of age cannot be made a shadow witness of Government during a vigilance raid.
A Government spokesman said that Punjab Government has observed that in cases pertaining to Government employees arrested on corruption charges, many a times due to retirement of shadow witnesses during the court proceedings, the conviction of the guilty could not happen and they walked away scot free.
“In view of this hindrance, Punjab Government has framed new rules pertaining to inclusion of two Government witnesses during the vigilance raid. According to the new rules, to trap an employee even though he belongs to Group-D, two gazetted officers below 50 years of age are to be made a part of the trap party as shadow witnesses of the Government,” the spokesman added.
Besides, after the completion of the raid, they are to report on the same day the complete proceedings of the trap to the officer who had deputed them on to the task and along with that send a copy to the Secretary, Vigilance department Punjab for information and further action.