Question : VIP REFERENCES

(a) whether VIP references including from Members of Parliament and Ministers are not being acknowledged by various officials of the Ministry/Subordinate offices;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the existing guidelines in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has taken any action against the erring officials;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the number of such letters received pertaining to corruption and other public importance matter; and

(f) the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) & (b): By and large, all the VIP references received in the Ministry of Home Affairs are acknowledged. The guidelines on the subject are contained in paragraph 66(1) of the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure which states that the communications received from the Members of Parliament should be acknowledged within 15 days.

(c) to (f): The information is being collected and will be laid on the Table of the House.