Complete disciplinary inquiries in time: Central Vigilance Commission to departments

NEW DELHI: Irked over delay in completion of departmental inquiries, the Central Vigilance Commission ( CVC) has asked all departments to ensure that such proceedings are completed in time.

As per rules, a departmental inquiry against a government employee needs to be completed within six months and a final decision has to be taken by authorities concerned on it in the next two months.

"The Commission has observed that the conduct and finalisation of departmental inquiry proceedings are unduly delayed and even after receipt of Inquiry Officer's report, further processing for its consideration and final orders of the respective disciplinary authorities take long time," the probity watchdog said in an order issued to Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs)--who act as distant arm of the CVC-- of all departments.

They have been asked to send details of all such departmental inquires cases pending with them to the CVC by this month end.

"All departmental inquiries need to be completed in time so that an honest employee is not harassed. The details have been sought as there are instances where inquiries are completed in the stipulated time period but pending final decision. The Commission wants to check these instances," a senior CVC official said.

In a study conducted by the Commission, it has been noticed that while the average time taken by the administrative authorities in finalisation of disciplinary proceedings is more than two years, the maximum time taken in a particular case was eight years and at least in 22 per cent cases the inquiry took more than two years.