Tainted officer will get chance to explain

The government has decided against the summary dismissal of any employee caught red-handed accepting bribe. Instead, he will be given a chance to explain his conduct.

The government has decided against the summary dismissal of any employee caught red-handed accepting bribe. Instead, he will be given a chance to explain his conduct.

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While tightening the noose on corruption, the UPA government has decided to keep this balance between fundamental rights of individuals and administrative agencies.

"Lot of discussion took place in the GoM over the issue of changing Article 311 of the Constitution. We decided that at least one opportunity should be given to an officer to explain his position,” MoS in PMO and Department of Personnel V Narayanasamy said while announcing the government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption.

Narayanasamy also announced that the government will soon issue orders to implement that anti-corruption measure suggested by the GoM.

Among the new measures, the government has decided to cut 10% pension of an officer in case of minor penalty, for maximum five years. For major offence, the officer will be forced to retire with a 20% cut in pension.

The series of measures also includes expediting corruption cases against public servants. To achieve this

objective, 71 fast-track special CBI courts would be set up while time to grant sanction for prosecution has been fixed at three months.

But the government refused to accept that it acted under pressure from the Anna Hazare camp. Narayanasamy pointed out that the GoM on corruption was formed by the Prime Minister in last January, much before Hazare started his campaign against corruption.

"The government is very concerned and has already taken steps. Anna Hazare gave his views. That does not mean whatever he says is going to be accepted," he added.