(a) whether the Government has taken any steps for improving transparency, efficiency and accountability of bureaucrats;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there are any proposals to make structural changes in zero tolerance policy procedure for corruption in public institutions;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the details of the Government employees against whom action has been taken in graft cases?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) to (d): The Central Government, in pursuance of its commitment to “Zero Tolerance Against Corruption”, has taken several measures to promote accountability and efficiency by encouraging greater transparency, introducing simplified procedures and reducing scope for discretion and to combat corruption, which inter alia include:
i. Systemic improvements and reforms to provide transparent citizen-friendly services and reduce corruption. These, inter alia, include:
a) Disbursement of welfare benefits directly to the citizens under various schemes of the Government in a transparent manner through the Direct Benefit Transfer initiative.
b) Implementation of e-Tendering in public procurements.
c) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedure and systems.
d) Introduction of Government procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
ii. Vigilance clearance is being denied to officers who do not file Immovable Property Returns (IPR) within the stipulated time;
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iii. Thirteen principles of ethics have been added to All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968
iv. Discontinuation of interviews in recruitment of Group ‘B’ (Non-Gazetted) and Group ‘C’ posts in Government of India.
v. Invocation of FR-56(j) and AIS(DCRB) Rules, 1958 for retiring officials from service in public interest whose performance has been reviewed and found unsatisfactory.
vi. The All India Services (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules and Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules have been amended to provide for specific timelines in the procedure related to disciplinary proceedings.
vii. The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 has been amended on 26.07.2018. It clearly criminalizes the act of giving bribe and will help check big ticket corruption by creating a vicarious liability in respect of senior management of commercial organizations.
viii. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), through various orders and circulars recommended adoption of Integrity Pact to all the organizations in major procurement activities and to ensure effective and expeditious investigation wherever any irregularity/misconduct is noticed.
ix. The institution of Lokpal has been operationalised by appointment of Chairperson and Members. Lokpal is statutorily mandated to directly receive and process complaints as regards alleged offences against public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
(e): As per information received from the Central Bureau of Investigation, the details of number of trap cases registered against Government servants, and disposed of during the last three years and the current year are as follows:
S.
No. 2017 2018 2019 2020
(upto 29.2.2020)
1 No. of cases Registered 167 156 116 13
2 No. of cases Disposed of from investigation 164 141 136 5
3 No. of cases Disposed of from trial 206 174 155 30
4 Modes of Disposal
(out of (3) above) Conviction 125 99 93 21
Acquittal 72 61 49 8
Discharge 6 7 10 1
Otherwise 3 7 3 0
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