Railways, CBDT take long time in finalising disciplinary cases

New Delhi, Mar 17 (PTI):
Public sector banks and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) finalise disciplinary cases in time or with slight delays, while major departments likes the Railways, CBDT and the CBIC take longer time in finalising individual disciplinary cases, the Central Vigilance Commission has informed a parliamentary panel.
The committee has recommended the CVC to explore the feasibility of holding the authorities concerned answerable for inaction or delayed action. Highlighting the growing number and complexity of financial frauds, the panel also asked the government to provide adequate funds to the CVC for strengthening surveillance capabilities and for setting up a centralised surveillance database.
The CVC received 3,371 cases in 2020, including 953 brought forward from the previous year, according to the committee’s report tabled in Parliament. Of these, 2,717 cases were disposed of (advice tendered), it said, adding that the data for 2020 is tentative and under finalisation.
As many as 654 cases were carried forward to 2021, the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice said in its 106th report on Demands for Grants (2021-22) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
On being asked about the reasons for inordinate delay in the processing of vigilance cases, the CVC said the delay is involved at the stage of further processing of vigilance cases after the commission tenders its first stage advice (FSA), by the ministry/departments/organisations concerned in instituting departmental action, conducting departmental inquiry thereof, appointing IO/PO and finalising the vigilance cases by issuance of final order of punishment or exoneration, it said.
“The CVC has further informed the committee that while the public sector banks and CPSEs finalise disciplinary cases in time or with slight delays, major departments like Railways, CBDT, CBIC, DoT and the ministries /department of Government of India take long time in finalising individual disciplinary cases, the report said.
According to the report, the committee is in agreement with the views of the CVC and opines that the vigilance set-up in the ministries/departments of the central government needs to be augmented with manpower to expedite vigilance activities/cases at all stages.
“The committee further recommends the CVC to explore the feasibility of holding the authorities concerned answerable for inaction or delayed action, the report said.