CVC Flags 23 Cases of Govt Departments Ignoring Corruption Advice, Names NHAI, BSNL, BRO, Prasar Bharati

swift Summary

• The central Vigilance Commission (CVC) flagged 23 cases of non-compliance with its advice on corruption cases by government bodies in its 2024 annual report.
• Ministries and organizations involved include the Ministry of Railways (5 cases), National Highway authority of India (NHAI), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Energy Efficiency Service Limited, and others such as BSNL, IDBI Bank, BRO, Prasar Bharati.
• Notable examples of non-compliance include:

– Railways: A hospital attendant dropped charges without consulting CVC despite advice for major penalty proceedings.
– BSNL: Exoneration of a Joint General Manager after initially awarding penalties against alleged submission of fake bank guarantees and delays in action.

• Non-adherence to CVC’s prescribed vigilance mechanisms reportedly undermines fairness and objectivity in disciplinary actions.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings by the CVC highlight systemic lapses in the compliance mechanism surrounding vigilance and anti-corruption efforts across several key sectors in India. While some departments have largely adhered to the commission’s advice, deviations by notable governmental institutions like Railways or BSNL reflect gaps that could weaken trust in disciplinary systems meant to ensure accountability within public administration.

Non-compliance raises larger questions about impartiality in handling corruption allegations, particularly when prescribed processes are diluted or circumvented without proper consultation with oversight mechanisms such as the CVC itself. This serves as a reminder for reinforcing strict procedural adherence across ministries to enhance probity and instill public confidence in institutional transparency.

Ultimately, these recurring instances underscore an urgent need for revisiting frameworks that govern interaction between vigilance bodies like the CVC and individual government entities to standardize adherence mechanisms more effectively.