Question : CORRUPTIONS IN COAL DEPARTMENT



(a) whether it is a fact that coal department is incurring big loss due to corruption;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government against the corrupt officials during the last two years?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE FOR COAL (SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM)

(a): As per the information available in the Ministry of Coal, Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries have not incurred any big loss due to corruption in their jurisdiction.

(b): Does not arise in view of the answer given to part (a) of the question.

(c): In the Ministry of Coal there is a Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) controlling a Vigilance Section of the Ministry. The CVO of the Ministry makes liaison with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and monitors the progress of investigations, disciplinary cases and prosecution cases in CIL headquarters and the subsidiary companies of CIL. The CIL headquarters and each of the subsidiary companies of CIL has a CVO exclusively for itself and vigilance departments. The CVOs of CIL headquarters and subsidiary companies of CIL also make liaison with the CVC in all vigilance matters of policy and procedure as well as in individual cases as and when required by the Commission. Investigations into complaints are done usually by these CVOs on receipt of source information, complaints received by them directly or references from the CVC and Ministry of Coal and the reports received from the Central Bureau of Investigation. On completion of investigations, disciplinary proceedings are initiated on substantiation of the allegations. The disciplinary proceedings in CIL headquarters and subsidiary companies of CIL are done as per the relevant disciplinary rules of CIL. With the jurisdiction of the CVC now covering the Board-level executives and the executives two level below the Board level, the investigation reports against such executives in CIL and disciplinary cases against them are required to be decided as per the advice of the CVC.


A statement of the disciplinary cases initiated by the Vigilance Departments of CIL/subsidiary companies of CIL during the last two years (1998-99 and 1999-2000) and the latest stage of action taken on such cases is given below:-

Disciplinary cases in which major	53
penalties were imposed
Disciplinary cases in which minor 90 penalties were imposed
Disciplinary cases in which administrative 18 action was taken
Cases in which disciplinary proceedings 160 are continuing.
Total number of disciplinary cases 321 initiated by the vigilance departments during the last two years.