CVC wants cases against secretaries or CMDs not to be forwarded to cabinet secretary-headed group

SOUNDS odd, but anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has virtually given license to junior officers of ministries or departments to take up probe and even ‘deal’ with secretaries of government of India facing complaints. In an order dated March 14, 2011, the CVC directed that all such cases against secretaries or chief executives of public sector enterprises and financial institutions should not be forwarded to the cabinet secretary-headed committee of secretaries.

It was found that many of such cases sent by CVC to concerned departments for inquiries were in turn referred to the cabinet secretary-headed committee.

“The Commission would, therefore, make it clear that all complaints referred by the Commission to the Ministries/Departments against the above categories of officials (secretaries of government of India and CEO of public sector enterprises and CMDs of public sector banks and financial institutions) are to be dealt or inquired into and reports submitted to the Commission by the respective authorities to whom complaints are sent by the Commission and such complaints should not be forwarded or referred to the Group of Secretaries or Group of Officers for consideration”, the CVC Circular said.

Significantly, the government in an office order dated January 14, 2010 decided that complaints against secretaries, whether anonymous or otherwise, would first be scrutinized by a group of secretaries headed by the cabinet secretary and the group was entrusted the power to close the complaint if it was found to be frivolous. But the move raised doubts that it was one way to end many a case against senior bureaucrats thereby forcing the DoPT to issue a clarification on March 8, 2010.

In that corrigendum, the CVC was allowed to look into complains including the anonymous ones against secretaries. The cabinet secretary was however empowered to scrutinize those complaints against secretaries which come to DoPT or PMO. But if any person sends the complaint to CVC, the cabinet secretary would not be able to scrutinize it, let alone closing it.

461 Delhi Police women personnel given commando training

The government has provided commando training to women personnel of Delhi Police to tackle the law and order situation in Delhi. Commando training is being provided to women personnel of Delhi Police with effect from January, 2011 and as many as 461 woman constables of Delhi Police have been imparted commando training till February 28, 2011.

Action and Appointments

a) The Central government has approved the extension of inter-cadre deputation of Khade

Nitin Kumar Shivdas, a 2004 batch Assam cadre IAS, from Assam-Meghalaya to Maharashtra cadre for a further period of two years beyond March 17, 2011.

b) Ashish Bahuguna, a 1978 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS, presently additional secretary, department of agriculture and Cooperation has been appointed as additional secretary and

financial adviser in the department of agriculture and cooperation.

c) Guljari La1 Bansal, a 1992 batch IA and AS officer has been appointed as director in the department of expenditure under the ministry of finance.