Anonymous complaints can be examined if charge is serious: CVC

 Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) K V Chowdary today said even anonymous complaints can be verified by it if allegations are of "grave nature", but cautioned that it should not be used to stall career prospects of an officer.

The Commission does not take any action on anonymous complaints reporting corruption in a government department which "are to be understood in the context in which these are made".

"If the circumstances stated in anonymous complaints are such that they deserve verification, or prudence demands that let us not take a chance, with or without consequences to person X's or Y's career, I am at liberty to verify any transactions," Chowdary said at an industry event here.

"... in appropriate cases there are enabling provisions. But let me caution you, it is not meant for the purpose of opening of file against person X and then say since petitions are pending... his promotion should be kept pending."

Chowdary termed the whistleblower mechanism as relevant to every organisation.
"A huge number of organisations claim they have a whistleblower policy, but it is not working," he said, underscoring the need for the private sector to put in place such a mechanism.

The Chief Vigilance Commissioner also drew a distinction between various shades of corruption. "Corruption has many facets to it such as nepotism and prejudices against someone and is not merely restricted to taking bribes," he noted.

He added that personal ethics should always be kept separate from professional ethics in an organisation.

"Every individual's personal ethics may cause chaos in an organisation, and in the interest of the organisation, it is better to maintain just one code of ethics which should be followed," Chowdary pointed out.

Speaking at the same function, State Bank of India MD (A&S) V G Kannan said SBI takes the issue of governance and compliance as of "utmost priority".

SBI Card CEO Vijay Jasuja said that over the years, with increasing complexity of business processes and the evolving competitive landscape, compliance has evolved into a critical business process and a key differentiation.