Lok Sabha Question No. 1677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Zero Tolerance Policy for Corrupt Officers
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK, RAMA DEVI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL & TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1677

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019)

## ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR CORRUPT OFFICERS

## †1677. SHRI VIJAY KUMAR HANSDAK: SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has adopted zero tolerance policy with regard to corruption;
- (b) if so, the number of corrupt officers identified under the said policy during the last three years, department-wise details thereof;
- (c) the  action  taken  against  such  corrupt  officers  on  the  basis  of  action  framework  fixed under the above said policy; and
- (d) the outcome of the said actions as of new and the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a): The  Central  Government  is  committed  to  its  policy  of  'Zero  Tolerance  Against Corruption' and has taken several measures to combat corruption.

The steps taken by the Central Government to combat corruption, inter alia, include:

- I. Systemic improvements and reforms to provide transparent citizen-friendly services and reduce corruption. These, inter alia,  include:
- a) Disbursement of welfare benefits directly to the citizens under various schemes of the  Government  in  a  transparent  manner  through  the  Direct  Benefit  Transfer initiative.
- b) Implementation of E-tendering in public procurements.
- c) Introduction of e-Governance and simplification of procedure and systems.
- d) Introduction  of  Government  procurement  through  the  Government  e-Marketplace (GeM).
- II. Discontinuation of interviews in recruitment of Group 'B' (Non-Gazetted) and Group 'C' posts in Government of India.
- III. Invocation  of  FR-56(j)  and  AIS(DCRB)  rule  for  prematurely  retiring  officials  whose performance has been reviewed and found unsatisfactory.

- IV. The  All  India  Services  (Disciplinary  and  Appeal)  Rules  and  Central  Civil  Services (Classification,  Control  and  Appeal)  Rules  have  been  amended  to  provide  for  strict timelines in the procedure related to disciplinary proceedings.
- V. The Prevention of Corruption Act has been amended on 26.07.2018 to bring a paradigm shift  in  tackling  corruption  in  as  much  as  clearly  criminalizing  the  act  of  giving  bribe, checking  big  ticket  corruption  by  creating  a  vicarious  liability  in  respect  of  senior management of commercial organizations where the act of giving of bribe is with their consent or connivance.
- VI. Issue of instructions by the CVC asking the organizations to adopt Integrity Pact in major procurement activities and to ensure effective and expeditious investigation wherever any irregularity/misconduct is noticed.

In  addition,  the  Central  Vigilance  Commission  (CVC),  as  an  apex  integrity  institution,  has adopted  a  multi-pronged  strategy  and  approach  to  combat  corruption,  which  encompasses punitive, preventive and participative vigilance.

(b) to (d):  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed that  1767 corruption cases have been registered against 4123 public servants during the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Out  of above  1767  cases, charge-sheets have  been  filed in 900  cases,  Regular Departmental Action (RDA) has been recommended in 59 cases and 89 cases have been closed / otherwise disposed off. Out of 900 charge-sheeted cases, till date 19 cases ended in conviction, 09 cases ended in acquittal, and 04 cases have been discharged/otherwise disposed off.

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