The Vigilance Commission is peeved at government departments seeking its opinion on every individual case pertaining to suspension of employees, leading to delay in settlement of cases. Chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi informed the departments that only such cases should be referred wherein the department decides to take back employees before completion of two years of suspension.
“Consultation with Vigilance Commission for advice is not required in respect of cases where it is decided to reinstate the employees, who are under suspension for a period not less than 2 years provided an official from the ACB attends such review meetings in all Anti Corruption Bureau cases,” Mr Dwivedi informed the departments. Scores of suspended government employees facing disciplinary action and criminal charges are approaching the departmental heads and also the vigilance commission for reinstatement into service pending completion of inquiries.
This has resulted in piling up cases. Though the government has issued instructions as to how to deal with such cases, there is no let up in the cases being referred to commission, forcing the chief secretary to step in and advice the departments.
Employees who are under suspension for a period exceeding 2 years can be reinstated pending finalisation of the disciplinary and criminal cases against them. However, in exceptional cases, where the charged officers are not cooperating in completion of investigation and inquiry, a committee headed by the secretary of the administrative department, head of department and an official from ACB will review the orders well before completion of two years of suspension and take a decision to continue such employees under suspension beyond two years, duly recording the reasons for such decision.