Chandigarh, October 14:
The Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday approved conversion of the Punjab State Vigilance Commission Ordinance, 2020, into a Bill for enactment in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha.
The establishment of the multi-member Commission, aimed at bringing in more transparency and check corruption among public servants, was approved by the Cabinet last month through the Ordinance, in line with the vision of Captain Amarinder Singh, who had steered the constitution of a similar Commission back in 2006, which was however scrapped by the Akalis when they came to power in 2007.
The Commission has been visualised as an independent body to exercise more effective superintendence over the functioning of Vigilance Bureau and all departments of the State Government, in order to provide clean, fair and transparent administration. It will comprise a Chairman with two members, with a term of 5 years, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting. The Commission will effectively exercise superintendence and control over the functioning of Vigilance Bureau and other Departments of the State Government.
The Punjab State Vigilance Commission shall review the progress of investigations conducted by the Vigilance Bureau and cases of prosecution sanction pending with various departments of the Government. The Vigilance Commission shall tender advice to the various departments of the Government, and other investigations on Vigilance matters. It 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 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.
