THE CVC had disposed off 468 cases during December 2009 referred to it for advice. The Commission advised initiations of major penalty proceedings against 70 officers. Of these, 20 were from public sector banks, 17 from M/o Railways, 11 from Northern Coalfields Ltd., 4 from Western Coalfields Ltd., 3 from MCD, 2 each from Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Board of Excise and Customs. The remaining 9 cases pertained to different departments of the Government of India and PSUs.
The Commission also advised imposition of major penalty against 66 officers including 13 from MCD, 11 from Public Sector Banks, 9 from M/o Railways, 6 from Central Board of Excise and Customs, 4 each from M/o Commerce and Central Coalfields Ltd., 3 each from Central Warehousing Corp. Ltd. and Hindustan Paper Corpn., 2 each from D/o Telecommunication, Eastern Coalfields Ltd., Khadi & Village Industries Commission and M/o of Textiles. Remaining 3 cases pertained to different departments of the Government of India and PSUs.
The Commission disposed 1122 complaints during the month. Of these, 1021 complaints were sent for necessary action/ATR whereas 101 complaints were sent for investigation and report.
On the Commission’s recommendations, the competent authorities issued sanctions for prosecution against 12 officers including 5 from M/o P,PG & Pensions, 2 from Punjab National Bank and 1 each from CBDT, M/o External Affairs, CBEC, M/o of Small Scale Industry and M/o of Commerce.
Recoveries to the tune of Rs. 68.63 crore were affected after Commission conducted technical examination of some departments.
Is it not hilarious that, in a country steeped in corruption from top to bottom, only 66 persons have been identified as corrupt? Any way, most of the accused are certainly going to be finally acquitted to the pecuniary benefit of some while many others will, in case they are punished, enjoy the loot after their punishment is over, as has been the practice in the country. Our anti-corruption machinery has no teeth, except to harass the honest people and protect the corrupt. Until there is a law to confiscate the entire assets/properties of the corrupt and this law is ruthlessly administered, this hide-and-seek game will go on to the loss of the exchequer. In a country where transfers and postings are saleable and constitute the most profitable venture, and that too absolutely openly, what is the relevance of a miniscule figure of 66 corrupt people? Has anyone the courage of declaring that no bribe is required to be paid in the police, municipalities, govt. hospitals, CGHS, DDA-like organisations, universities/colleges (for admission or for getting jobs), etc.?