The appellant was understandably agitated about the fact that the combination of vigilance and enquiry set-ups in India does not lead to any deterrent action for the wrong doing. This is the 36th in a series of important judgements given by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi that can be used or quoted in an RTI application

The Central Information Commission (CIC) while agreeing with the applicant asked the Public Information Officer (PIO) of vigilance department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to provide information sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. While giving this important judgement, Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner, said this was an important issue and the information given by the PIO clearly shows that instructions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) are not even circulated or shown.

“The Commission finds that whereas the CVC has given timelines for enquiries and investigations it is apparent that these timelines are not followed, which is the main contention of the appellant,” the CIC said in its order issued on 31 July 2009.

Delhi resident Kamal Singh sought information about functioning of the vigilance department in MCD. Below are the information he sought and the replies provided by the PIO...

1. How many officials of the MCD have been ordered to be charge-sheeted during the last three years (from 11/01/2006 to 31/11/2008) for minor and major penalties? How many charge-sheets have actually been issued during the above period? 

PIO- Total officials charge-sheeted w.e.f. 1/1/2006 to 30/11/2008 are 1,595. Out of these officials 1,350 officials were charge-sheeted for major penalties while 245 officials were charge-sheeted for minor penalties. In this period 1,472 charge-sheets were issued.

2. How many departmental inquiries were pending and what were the steps taken to ensure early conclusion of departmental inquiries?

PIO-This Para has already been referred to Director of Inquiries vide letter No. PIO(Vig.) /CRIA/HC/1493 /2008/5853 dated 26/12/2008 for providing information directly.

3. Did the vigilance department of the MCD actually consider and process the defence statements/representations received from the charged officers and put up the same to the concerned disciplinary authorities for their consideration for obtaining their specific orders on the same for accepting or rejecting them as required under the relevant rules i.e. DMC Services (Control and Appeal) Regulations, 1959? In how many cases charges during the last three years had been dropped after considering the defence statements? If there is no practice to consider the defence statements received from the charged. What are the reasons thereof?  

PIO-Defence statements/representation of the charged officials along with entire record of the case is placed before the disciplinary authority for consideration and passing appropriate orders. In no case charges were dropped during last three years after considering defence statements. Defence statements/representation are properly considered.

4. What were the steps taken by the vigilance department to avoid delay in taking action on defence statement and processing vigilance cases? Have any instruction been issued in this regard? If yes, kindly supply copies of the instructions. If not, what are the reasons for not issuing necessary instructions to the officers and staff of Vigilance Department?      

PIO-In this regard CVC instructions are being followed (Copy has been provided).

5. Are officers of vigilance department including DOV and CVO conscious and alive to their responsibilities to dispose off the files and papers put up to them expeditiously to set the good examples of efficiency to the lower staff of vigilance department? How many files had been disposed off during the last three years by ADVOs, ADCDOV and COV and what was the time taken in respect of each file. Kindly give the relevant information.       

PIO-Yes, all the files and papers put up before CVO, DOV, ADC & ADOVs were disposed expeditiously taking necessary minimum time.

6. It has been seen that wrong charges have been framed against some officials of the MCD due to carelessness on the part of concerned officials/officers of the vigilance department. In how many such cases of framing wrong and factually incorrect charges, disciplinary action has been taken for dereliction of duty?       

PIO- None.

7. What is the policy with regard to posting of staff and officers to vigilance department? Is there any tenure limit of posting in vigilance department? If yes, what is the maximum period of posting in vigilance department? Are steps taken to ensure that staff and officers do not overstay in vigilance department and develop any personal interest in staying in vigilance department? Give the number of such officers who had been in this department for more than five years.      

PIO-As per CVC instructions posting and transfer in the vigilance department is required to be done with the approval of CVO. Four Officers are continuing in the vigilance department for more than five years.

Mr Singh then filed the first appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) due to unsatisfactory and incomplete information provided by the PIO. The FAA, in his order issued on 2 March 2009, said, “In view of fact arose during the hearing of the case, the PIO of vigilance dept of the MCD is directed to inform the appellant within 15 days as to whether the CVC's instructions in question have been circulated or not. So far information regarding number of files disposed off by various officers of the department and time taken in respect of each file is concerned, the appellant is requested to inspect the relevant registers of various officers within 10 days as the information is bulky in nature which will divert the entire resources of the department, if collected.”

However, the PIO did not comply with the order issued by the FAA. Mr Singh then approached the CIC with his second appeal. During a hearing, Mr Gandhi, the CIC, noted that the appellant has raised a fairly important issue about instructions from the CVC.

The PIO claimed that “...many times files are sent to CVCs for obtaining first stage advise or second advise which takes three to four months hence it is not possible to maintain any timelines.”

When asked by Mr Gandhi about the delay in providing the information, the PIO stated that this was due to the concerned officer having an illness in his family. The PIO was then warned that if the timelines are not observed, then penalties under Section 20(1) will be imposed upon him by the CIC.

The CIC noted that the respondent’s statement only indicates that if CVC which issues these guidelines itself does not follow any time discipline; organizations like vigilance department are also likely to follow the bad example being set.

Mr Gandhi while allowing the appeal directed the PIO to provide the information sought by Mr Kumar.

CENTRAL INFORMATION COMMISSION

Decision No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001500/4335

https://ciconline.nic.in/cic_decisions/SG-31072009-09.pdf

Appeal No. CIC/SG/A/2009/001500

Appellant                                            : Kamal Singh

                                                            Delhi-110009.

Respondent                                        : AK Verma

                                                            Public Information Officer

                                                            Municipal Corporation of Delhi

                                                            Vigilance Department,

                                                            16, Rajpur Road, Civil Lines,

                                                            Delhi-110054