Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Aug 6: In response to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated the Modi Government’s resolve to make the administration and bureaucracy more accountable and stated that one of the measures undertaken to ensure this is the denial of vigilance clearance to such officers who do not file Immovable Property Return (IPR) within the stipulated time. Pertinent to mention that vigilance clearance is required for bureaucrats seeking promotions and empanelments to higher positions.
Providing a detailed information with figures about the number of officers from different All India Services and other Group ‘A’ Central Services including IAS, IPS and IRS against whom disciplinary action was taken or prosecution was ordered, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that the details of the Immovable Property Returns (IPR) of the members of All India Services as well as Group ‘A’ Central Services are placed in public domain. At the same time, he stated, introduction of e-governance for improving the service delivery to citizens and enhancing transparency is being seriously pursued. Cases of prosecution pending in various Ministries are regularly monitored by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), he added.
Referring to some of the path-breaking decisions taken by the government during the last one year, he mentioned introduction of self-attested certificate and simplification of procedures involving multiple affidavits. To make citizens aware about these new measures and the current information-technology-based procedures, several advertisement campaigns have been carried out in recent months, he said, on various subjects including the e-filing of tax-returns.
Referring to the steps taken to inculcate accountability in administration even in the State Governments and Union Territory Governments, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that Government of India has suggested to various State Governments to undertake regular screening exercise to weed out officers of doubtful integrity and also such officers who are non-productive. Government has sanctioned 92 additional special courts across the country to dispose of corruption cases expeditiously and out of these 86 courts have already become functional, he added.
The process to increase the accountability in bureaucracy will continue, stated Dr Jitendra Singh, and referred to several additional measures undertaken for this purpose, which include issue of comprehensive instructions by CVC asking the organisations and the State Government to adopt “Integrity Pact” in major procurements. He also referred to the “Whistleblowers Protection Act”, “Prevention of Corruption Act Amendment Bill” currently pending for consideration in Rajya Sabha as well as the “Lokpal and Lokayuktas 2013 Amendment Bill which is currently with Standing Committee of the Parliament.
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