CVC displays list of `corrupt' IAS, IPS <I>babus</I>

CVC displays list of `corrupt' IAS, IPS babus
SWATI CHATURVEDI

New Delhi, January 23: In a potentially controversial break from the past and in a move that's very likely to send jitters in the top bureaucracy, Central Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal has made public the 88 cases against 74 ``corrupt'' IAS officers and 21 against IPS officers. All these names are available on the CVC's website www.cvc.nic.in.

Although quite a few of these are retired officers, Vittal says that serving ones better watch out since he will regularly update the list.

This ``rogue's gallery'' lists the designations and departments of the officers and the CVC's ``advice.'' In most of the cases, the CVC has said that ``information is awaited'' regarding the issue of chargesheet or the outcome of the case. While most of the IPS officers named were with the Home Ministry, the IAS officers come from a range of departments including Surface Transport, Coal, Steel and the Food Corporation of India.

The IAS officials listed include D K Rao, Chairman, Ministry of Surface Transport, formerSecretaries such as Mahesh Prasad, Beck Julius and Suresh Kumar and serving IPS officials such as E Hariharan allegedly involved in the Jayalalitha fire tender case. Also on the list are Delhi Police officials Ujjawal Mishra and R C Kohli.

When contacted in Chennai by The Indian Express Vittal said: ``The CVC has been perceived as going soft on corruption. The media has also been saying that the big fish always escape so I was determined to net the fish I had. Why should the names of corrupt officials be a secret? By going public, I will create an impression that I am really serious against corruption.''

He added that corrupt officials had better watch out as he wouldn't hesitate to update the list to make sure that people are aware whom they are dealing with.

Vittal's move hasn't gone down well with the IPS and IAS associations. While formally refusing to comment, office-bearers termed the decision a publicity stunt. ``Since officials are not allowed to comment we cannot hit back but, we will take upthe issue. A former IAS official has done this.'' Some serving officials welcomed the decision: ``it is a good step at least the black sheep will now be identified,'' said a serving DG. Others said that this should not be reduced to a witchhunt and trivial or frivolous cases could easily be used to tarnish the image of an officer by politicians who don't find them convenient.

As of now, however, Vittal insists that those named are officials with ``major penalty proceedings'' and prosecutions against them. In some cases, prosecutions were launched as far back as 1992 in some cases. Major penalty proceedings involve punishments like reduction in rank, removal from service where pensions benefits are given and dismissal from service where the government withdraws pension benefits.

The names of serving officials on the Government's watchlist of corruption are still a secret. Interestingly, most of the names made public are those of retired officials against whom action is pending. Vittal, however, maintainsthat this decision will speed up action against corrupt officials and prove to be a warning to serving officials.