235 CBI requests seeking sanction for prosecution pending

NEW DELHI: The probe in 103 cases of CBI against 235 government officials is pending as Ministries and state governments have yet to accord sanction to prosecute them, Lok Sabha was informed today.

A total of 40 requests seeking sanction for prosecution are pending for over a year whereas 63 are awaiting decision between six months to one year and 34 requests are pending for between three months to six months and 98 are pending for less than three years, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said.

He said among 40 requests pending for over a year highest of seven relating to four cases under probe are with Department of Personnel and Training.

The Minister said among the state governments highest number of 19 requests seeking sanction for prosecution are pending with Uttar Pradesh, 15 with Jharkhand, 14 with Delhi and 11 are pending with Rajasthan among others.

"The Supreme Court of India in its judgement in Vineet Narain versus Union of India and another has prescribed time limit of three months for grant of sanction for prosecution. However, additional time of one month has been allowed where consultation is required with Attorney General or any other law officers in AG's office," Singh said.

The Minister said DoPT has circulated duly approved recommendations of Group of Ministers, wherein, the competent authority has been instructed mandatorily take a decision within a period of three months from receipt of request and pass a speaking order.

In response to a separate question, the Minister said CBI prepares list of officers and officials with doubtful integrity, without consulting the Central Vigilance Commission, as a preventive vigilance.