CVC
withdraws circular that encouraged whistleblowers, even if complainants were
anonymous
NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission has withdrawn a
12-year-old circular that urged government departments to investigate
allegations of corruption if there was prima facie evidence, even if complaints
were submitted by anonymous people or those using pseudonyms. The circular was
meant to protect whistle blowers, revelation of whose identity could prove
detrimental and deter them from bringing to light cases of corruption.
However, complainants who desire to protect their identity for fear of consequences have the protection of the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution, 2004, where the identity of the complainant would be kept a secret, if complaint is filed to the CVC under this provision. Withdrawal of the circular would mean that any complaint which does not carry the name of complainant or one with a wrong identity would be rejected, irrespective of the seriousness of the allegation or verifiable facts presented with the complaint.
However, complainants who desire to protect their identity for fear of consequences have the protection of the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers Resolution, 2004, where the identity of the complainant would be kept a secret, if complaint is filed to the CVC under this provision. Withdrawal of the circular would mean that any complaint which does not carry the name of complainant or one with a wrong identity would be rejected, irrespective of the seriousness of the allegation or verifiable facts presented with the complaint.
An official claimed
this was been done to ensure honest officials were not harassed through
anonymous complaints of corruption and also to address perception of policy
paralysis in bureaucracy. The circular issued in 2002 had said that government
departments or Central Vigilance Officers (CVOs) can look into anonymous
complaints after prior CVC concurrence if there were any "verifiable"
facts in the complaint. CVC, in a circular to all ministries and CVOs on
November 25 has now said the 2002 CVC circular stands withdrawn with immediate
effect.
Interestingly, both the government and the Central Vigilance Commission have
done U-turns on this issue.
Source:-The Economic
Times