Govt unveils measures to check bureaucratic corruption

NEW DELHI: Mere retirement will not be a ground for dropping proceedings against corrupt government servants who will now face a 10 per cent cut in pension in case of minor penalty.

The present major penalty of compulsory retirement with full benefits will be changed hereafter with a cut of 20 per cent in pension.

The new rules will be effective under decisions made in the first report of the Group of Ministers on Corruption headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

In a bid to tackle corruption and to fast track cases of public servants accused of graft, the GoM has decided to eliminate certain tiers in consultation process.

These steps are part of a series of measures accepted by the government for immediate implementation following the recommendations made.

The government's decisions come in the wake of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign for a Lokpal Bill that would also cover bureaucratic graft.

Until now, a government servant on the verge of retirement can escape proceedings for minor penalty. The GoM has now decided mere superannuation should not be a ground for dropping proceedings for minor penalty.

A cut in pension upto 10 per cent may be imposed in case of minor penalty. This cut will have a ceiling of five years as a life-long reduction in pension would come under the category of major penalty.

The existing major penalty of compulsory retirement with full benefits may be changed to compulsory retirement along with a provision that the competent authority may impose upto 20 per cent cut in pension.