Disciplinary step against CBI officials to be quick

In an attempt to avoid delay in taking senior CBI officers to task, the government has now come up with a single-window system for dealing with their disciplinary proceedings.

The new system would be in place from March 1 and officials said the move would help the CBI and the government streamline the process of initiating disciplinary action against officers who are found wanting in their job.

This would also ensure that the proceeding could not be delayed by interested parties by not furnishing relevant documents. “We have been witnessing delay in processing these proposals referred to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) due to procedural infirmities, shortcomings and discrepancies,” a senior official said.

The DoPT, which controls the CBI, has also come up with a checklist for the investigating agency so that it can ensure that all documents are in place when they submit the proposal for initiating disciplinary action against a senior officer. From now on, an authorised representative of the CBI is required to come to the DoPT office in person for handing over the proposal for initiation proceedings. “The official has to come with all the relevant documents records through an authorised representative after obtaining the first stage advice of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) wherever required as per prescribed norms,” the official said.

All such proposals will be accepted by an under secretary in the ministry sitting in North Block on all working days between 11 am and 1 pm.

“The proposals would initially be scrutinised in terms of information sought and in consonance with the prescribed checklist. Incomplete cases would be returned after pointing out deficiencies. Cases, which are complete in all respects as per the checklist, would only be accepted for detailed scrutiny and examination,” the DoPT order said.

The order said the CBI is requested to take note of the new system being introduced and bring it to the notice of all zonal offices. The checklist should be countersigned by an officer not below the level of the deputy director in the CBI, it added.