New Delhi: Upset over constant delays in granting prosecution sanction, specially against senior IAS and IPS officers, the Central Vigilance Commission will now lodge a strong protest with the Centre. The anti-corruption watchdog will be writing to the new government once its in place post the May 16 counting to curb the delays.
Sources in the Commission said on an average there is delay of at least six to eight months by various ministries and departments which considerably delays stringent action against the officials.
At times, sources added, the delay extends to beyond a year as well even though it is supposed to be done within three months.
Even now, source added, the Commission is waiting for the sanction against at least 55 such officers.
“What happens is that delay in prosecution sanction has a cascading impact on other follow-up action. So by the time things are set in motion there is considerable delay and in many instances even the alleged accused officer either retires or even manages to tamper with crucial evidence. So the entire purpose of stringent deterrent gets defeated,’’ a senior Commission official said.
Now taking a serious note of what the CVC described as a “serious lapse’’ it will ask the new incumbent at the Centre to ensure that a time bound mechanism is put in place.
The Commission will seek to fix accountability on part of those officers responsible for the delay. Sources said the CVC may also ask for disciplinary action, like an adverse entry in their Annual Confidential Reports, against those supervising officers who failed to send the sanction permission.
“This issue has been pending for far too long now and despite repeated reminders from the CVC things don’t move in the Ministries. There has to be some sort of punitive action both against the corrupt officials and those delaying sanctions in such matters,’’ the official said.
