Vigilance staff shortage in ministries delaying crucial appointments to PSUs

NEW DELHI: In an effort to speed up board level appointments in central public sector units, the government has set a two-month deadline for central vigilance commission (CVC) clearance. However, those familiar with the process say that delay in vigilance clearance is mostly due to the backlog of complaints against officials in the ministries, where lack of adequate staff for vigilance work is at the core of the problem.
"Only in very few cases, which can be counted on the fingertips, does the vigilance clearance get delayed in CVC. The delay mostly happens because the ministry sends incomplete details," says an official familiar with the process.
Most central ministries are unable to tackle vigilance issues, especially complaints against officials in time because of the lack of staff for the critical function. In almost all big ministries a joint secretary rank officer holds part time responsibility for vigilance affairs.
Except departments such as income tax, customs, posts, telecom and railways, every other ministry and department is operating without a full time CVO. For the last few years, the department of personnel has been seeking an action taken report on CVC recommendation for full time CVOs. However, not much progress has been made, sources said.
The October 22 'guidelines for processing proposals for appointment to board level posts in central public sector enterprises (CPSEs)' says, "In case vigilance clearance is not denied by CVC within the two months period stipulated above (which would include consultation with CBI/CBI clearance, reference to the CVO of the Ministry for any report, clarification etc), the Ministries shall proceed with the appointment process, without waiting any further."
The order says PESB (public enterprises selection board) will begin the process for filling up of board level vacancies at least a year prior to the date on which the vacancy arises. And it would complete the selection process and send its recommendations to the ministry concerned at least six months prior to the date of vacancy. Within 10 days of receiving PESB recommendation, the ministry will forward it with vigilance profile of the selected candidate to CVC.
The order says CVC will complete the vigilance clearance process within two months from the date of receipt of the vigilance profile. "This period of two months will include consultation with CBI/CBI clearance, reference to the CVO of the ministry for any report, clarifications etc," the order says.
Within 10 days of CVC clearance the ministry will forward the proposal to the secretariat of the appointments committee of cabinet (ACC). Within six weeks, the ACC will take a decision on the proposal.
The ministry order says appointments are getting "considerably delayed in cases where vigilance clearance is neither denied nor given or is awaited."