To bring in more transparency and check corruption among public servants, Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday approved the establishment of a multi-member Vigilance Commission.
An official spokesperson said, “It will comprise of a chairman and two members, with a term of 5 years. The Punjab State Vigilance Commission (Ordinance) Bill, 2020, which provides for the constitution of the Commission, will effectively exercise superintendence and control over the functioning of Vigilance Bureau and other Departments of the State Government in order to provide clean, fair and transparent administration.”
The Punjab State Vigilance Commission shall review the progress of investigations conducted by the Vigilance Bureau and cases of prosecution sanction pending with the various departments. The Vigilance Commission shall tender advice to the various departments of the Government and has been empowered to give directions to the Vigilance Bureau for discharging the responsibility entrusted to it. It has also been empowered to inquire or cause an inquiry/investigation to be made in respect of allegations made under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant offences against public servants.
The spokesperson said, “The Commission will consist of the State Chief Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson, to be appointed from amongst those persons who have been or are serving as Judge of a High Court or an officer in the rank and pay scale of Secretary to Government of India. Two Vigilance Commissioners will be appointed as members from amongst persons who have been or are in an All India Service of in any Civil Service of the Union of State or in a civil post under the Union or State having expertise and experience in matters relating to vigilance, policy making, administration (including police administration), finance (including insurance and banking law) in the rank and pay scale of the Additional Secretary to the Government of India or the Financial Commissioner of the State. Both the Vigilance Commissioners shall not belong to the same service or have exactly similar experience.”
These appointments shall be made on the recommendations of a Committee chaired by the Chief Minister with Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker, and the senior-most minister of the Council of Ministers (after the CM) as its members.
