Changes being carried out in draft on suggestions of panel
All latest guidelines of CVC also incorporated
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 31: The new Vigilance Manual of the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau drafted on the pattern of Central Vigilance Commission is likely to be approved and notified by the Government shortly as at present certain changes are being carried out on the recommendations of a high-level committee constituted in this regard.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the Vigilance Manual, which is presently being followed by the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau, was notified several years back and till date the same is serving as a reference book for vigilance administration although several significant developments have taken place after the bifurcation of erstwhile J&K State into two Union Territories.
In the middle of 2021, the need for preparing new Vigilance Manual on the pattern of Central Vigilance Commission, which has jurisdiction over the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, was felt and accordingly the Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau constituted a team of officers for the task.
After detailed exercise the draft of the new Vigilance Manual was submitted to the General Administration Department, which has administrative control over the Anti-Corruption Bureau, for the approval of the competent authority.
“After deliberations over the draft Vigilance Manual in the General Administration Department, a high-level committee was constituted to analyze the same and make necessary recommendations for incorporation in the Manual”, sources said while disclosing that as suggested by the committee changes are being incorporated and efforts are on to complete the exercise as early as possible.
Highlighting the grounds for framing of new Vigilance Manual, they said that several circulars and guidelines on different aspects of vigilance administration have been issued either by the Government or by the Central Vigilance Commission and there is an imperative need for compiling them into a single document for the guidance of everyone assigned the task of vigilance administration in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the draft Vigilance Manual, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has, for the first time, kept Special Chapters on Public Sector Enterprises, Banking & Insurance Companies and Economic Offences. Moreover, detailed instructions have been mentioned on preventive vigilance, disciplinary proceedings and some other relevant issues.
“Earlier Vigilance Manual was prepared when there were only two Vigilance Police Stations but at present the number of Police Stations of Anti-Corruption Bureau has increased and more are likely to be established in future”, sources said, adding “moreover, for the first time Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has been created in the Anti-Corruption Bureau and its functioning is also required to be defined properly in the Vigilance Manual”.
Moreover, several new initiatives have been taken to facilitate filing of complaints about corrupt practices like mobile application ‘Satark Nagrik’ and Departmental Vigilance Officers Portal and in the draft new Vigilance Manual the Anti-Corruption Bureau has mentioned detailed guidelines and instructions on these aspects.
“Even for the first time the guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission are being followed in the appointment of Chief Vigilance Officers and Departmental Vigilance Officers and their role, functions and responsibilities are also required to be defined in the Vigilance Manual”, sources further said.
Moreover, in the new Manual the ACB has also kept elaborative chapters on vigilance administration, complaints handling, preliminary enquiry, disciplinary proceedings and suspension, preventive vigilance, powers and functions of Central Vigilance Commission, monitoring of corruption cases and organizing structured/periodic meetings, rotation of vigilance officers, protection against victimization of whistle blowers and action on anonymous /pseudonymous complaints.
When contacted, an officer in the General Administration Department, while wishing anonymity, confirmed that new Vigilance Manual will be notified shortly, adding “entire exercise has almost been completed”. Likewise, an officer of the Anti-Corruption Bureau said, “the work is under progress and will be completely as early as possible”.
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