State Vigilance Commission to oversee Vigilance Organisation

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government has brought the State Vigilance Organisation under the superintendence of the State Vigilance Commission (SVC).

"The SVC would supervise the vigilance-related works undertaken by the vigilance organisation in any of the modes prescribed under the Vigilance Manual viz FIR Cases, Secret and open verifications, Joint Surprise checks and Preliminary enquiries," Secretary of the General Administration Department M A Bukhari said.

In a notification issued here, the secretary said, "It shall be obligatory on part of the Director of Vigilance to ensure that once a case is registered or Preliminary Enquiry (PE) is ordered a copy of FIR or PE order along with a copy of the complaint is transmitted to the SVC within 24 hours."

Former Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda was appointed as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of the state in February this year. The SVC was set up in 2011.

According to the notification, The Director of Vigilance shall submit monthly progress reports on cases. The commission could also ask for progress report at any time.

As per the rules with regard to the review of probe, "the Commission shall review the investigation and enquiries on regular basis till these are brought to logical conclusion."

The Director of Vigilance shall keep the Commission informed about secret and open verifications and surprise checks being conducted by it and notwithstanding the formal conclusions drawn, the outcome of such verifications and surprise checks shall be shared with the Commission.

The Commission on examination of such reports may issue directions as may be deemed appropriate to reach the rightful conclusion, it said adding that the party concerned shall have to deposit necessary cost of the supply "of such certified copy as may be fixed by the Commission".

With regard to action on conclusion of investigation and PE, it said when the Vigilance Organisation concludes the investigation of an case, it shall, before sending the case to the sanctioning authority for further action, "prepare a final investigation report and submit the same along with case diary file to the Commission for its advice".