Patna, Feb. 2: A recent directive of the vigilance department to expedite the process of departmental proceedings against the government employees arrested on corruption charges in the past five years has created a flutter in the administrative circles.
The directive assumes significance in the wake of dismissal of five sub-inspectors and an assistant sub-inspector after they were pronounced guilty by the conducting officers (conducting departmental proceedings) appointed by the government. Action is likely to be taken against 44 other policemen but proceedings against them are incomplete.
“We inform the heads of the parent department of the public servants soon after their arrest by the vigilance sleuths while taking bribes. The department concerned is supposed to put its employees under suspension and initiate departmental proceedings against them,” said A.K. Chauhan, the principal secretary of the vigilance department.
In many cases the departmental proceedings were not initiated even after intimation about the arrest of the employees. “We have asked the heads of the departments concerned to expedite the processes of departmental proceedings against the public servants booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act,” Chauhan said.
Sources said the general administration department issued a notice a few days ago against suspended IAS officer S.S. Varma, asking him to explain as to why departmental proceedings should not be initiated against him.
Varma, whose disproportionate assets were confiscated by the Patna district authority on the directive of the special vigilance court recently, has been asked to send his reply within 15 days.
Sources said Varma was posted as secretary in the minor irrigation department at the time of raid on his Rukunpura residence in Patna.
Varma, sources claimed, was staying in UP after his palatial house was confiscated under the Bihar Special Courts Act, 2009 and a school was opened for the children of Mahadalits.
Sources said out of 450 public servants arrested since 2006, about 100 were facing departmental proceedings.
