The annual confidential reports (ACR) of the chief vigilance officers (CVOs) in public sector undertakings/organisations are not being prepared according to norms laid down by the government, the central vigilance commission has brought to the notice of the department of personnel and training (DoPT).

The DoPT in turn has written to all ministries and departments of the central government and asked them to adhere to government guidelines.

The guidelines on the ‘reporting, reviewing and acceptance for the confidential report in respect of chief vigilance officers working in the public sector undertakings/organisations’ were issued in May 1993. According to these guidelines, ACRs of chief vigilance officers in PSUs/organisations should be initiated by the chief executive/chairman/chairman-cum-managing director of the organisation concerned and reviewed by the secretary of the ministry/department.

The reports are thereafter sent to the central vigilance commissioner for writing his remarks as the accepting authority.

In a report submitted to the DoPT, the CVC claimed these guidelines were being flouted.

“It is not exactly clear which part of the guidelines was not being adhered to, but it is certain that the chief vigilance officers were let off without scrutiny by the bosses of the public sectors units/organisations,” a DoPT official said.

“A vigilance officer of a PSU is very powerful officer who scrutinises accounts of the unit he/she is in charge of. However if his ACRs is in the hands of the CMD of the same unit he is rendered powerless,” explained the official. “It’s a case of quid pro quo.”

This trend of give and take was noticed by the CVC, which informed the DoPT, and which in turn shot off a circular to union ministries and departments on August 2. “The instructions of this department are hereby reiterated for strict compliance by all concerned,” the DoPt wrote.