THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has issued fresh guidelines for Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) to function as an independent enforcement agency.
The guidelines, appended in an order which was issued by the Home Department in late March, comes close on the heels of the removal of former Vigilance Director Jacob Thomas. However, the guidelines are contrary to those issued by Thomas and the government had amended his recommendations pertaining to the investigation of the cases.
In the order, the then Home secretary Nalini Netto said Thomas had permitted the unit officers including the SPs and DySPs to take action at unit level on the petitions received directly by conducting quick verifications and surprise raids. Hence, the government has directed the VACB to take permission from the director for the registration of each case rather than taking action voluntarily.
The other major guidelines include the petitions which have no vigilance angle need to be dealt with the department concerned and the petitions received by heads of departments will be forwarded to the Administrative Department and later handed over to Vigilance Department.
If departmental action is recommended by an inquiry officer in a confidential verification, the report should be sent to the Vigilance director.
In the case of enquiries by vigilance special courts, no sanction is required from the Vigilance Department in government for conducting such enquiries or verifications.
Before the filing of final report in the vigilance courts, the findings of the investigating officer should be scrutinised through proper channel and put up to the Vigilance director. Once an FIR is registered and copies sent to the court concerned, the entire matter comes under the purview of the court.