NEW DELHI, July 18:
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has extended by six months, till December 1, the tenure of an eight-member committee of experts formed to review pending cases referred to it by CBI for sanction of prosecution.
The tenure of the committee has been extended for a period of six months with effect from July 1, said an order issued by CVC.
The experts are Vivek Mehrotra, retired IAS officer and former Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, V S Jain, ex- Chairman, SAIL and three former IPS officers Uday Shankar Dutt, Balwinder Singh and R N Ravi.
Besides them, Prakash Chandra, the then Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), D L Rawal, former Chairman and Managing Director of Dena Bank and M Venugopalan, former CMD, Bank of India are also on the committee.
The committee was formed for a period of two years on July 1, 2012.
CVC tenders advice in respect of officers coming under its jurisdiction against whom the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after probing the case, has recommended sanction for prosecution.
“On a few occasions, where the Commission has in agreement with the CBI’s recommendations, advised sanction for prosecution against a public servant, the disciplinary authority, in disagreement with the CBI’s recommendations, approaches the Commission for reconsideration of its advice.
“A Committee under the chairmanship of a Vigilance Commissioner along with two experts from the panel takes a final view on the case,” a CVC official said explaining the working of the panel.
CVC is headed by Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and two Vigilance Commissioners—Rajiv and J M Garg.
The Commission is awaiting for over four months sanction of prosecution against 65 officials allegedly involved in corruption, according to its latest data.
Of a total of 29 cases involving these officials, a highest of six are pending with Delhi Jal Board, four with Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, three with Bank of India, two each with Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of India and Ministry of Home Affairs among others.
The sanction for prosecution is awaited in one case each of Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Ministry of Coal and Mines, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways and Ministry of Finance, it said.
As per the norms, sanction for prosecution has to be decided within four months time. (PTI)
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