The Government has decided to appoint chief vigilance officers (CVOs) in multi-state cooperatives like Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative limited (Iffco), Nafed and Kribhco to look into allegations of corruption and check other irregularities.
The move follows the decision by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as a nodal agency to ensure transparency in governance, to bring these societies within the ambit of Central Vigilance Commission.
The decision to bring cooperative societies under the CVC came following complaints of alleged corruption against their officials, after which a legal opinion of Attorney General was obtained.
“The learned AG has opined that the members, office-bearers and employees of the multi-state cooperative societies would fall within the purview of Section 2(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and that the CVC is duly empowered to exercise jurisdiction over them,” according to an office memorandum issued by the DoPT.
The CVC is looking into the complaints against managing director of Iffco for misuse of society’s funds to grab a posh bungalow worth several crores in the national Capital. The Pioneer had exposed the irregularities in Iffco.
last week, the Iffco Board decided to put to vote the issue of Government’s move to bring the body under the purview of CVC, claiming that Iffco had no direct or indirect Government holding, debt or guarantee.
Sources in the DoPT said the appointment of CVOs, who act as a distant arm of CVC, will help CVC conduct enquiries on complaints of corruption and other irregularities. “The modalities are being worked out in consultation with the CVC and others for the appointment of CVOs. The Government will initiate the process of appointment of the CVOs after that,” a DoPT official said.
The PCA section explains category of a public servant who could be covered under the Act. It includes a person in the service or pay of a corporation established by or under a central, provincial or State act among others. Societies like Iffco, National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India
limited (NAFED) and Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) were enjoying immunity from the CVC lens before the latest order by the DoPT.