New Delhi: The Central Vigilance Commission has decided to ascertain the authenticity of complainants informing it about corruption in central government departments before initiating any probe on the basis of their complaints.
The move, officials say, is aimed at checking fraudulent or malicious complaints, which often crop up against a government official being considered for a particular posting to delay grant of vigilance clearance to him.
"All Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) are informed that henceforth, the Commission would be seeking confirmation from the complainant for owning or disowning the complaint, as the case may be," the anti-corruption watchdog said in a directive.
The CVOs, who act as distant arm of the Commission, have also been asked to seek confirmation on graft complaints received by them from the complainants.
"As regards complaints received directly by the CVOs of ministries, departments or organisations, if a complaint contains specific and verifiable allegations of corruption or vigilance angle and it is proposed to take cognizance of such complaints, the complaint will be first sent to the complainant for owning or disowning," the directive said.
If no response is received within from the complainant within 15 days of sending the complaint, a reminder will be sent. 15 days after sending the reminder, if still nothing is heard, the said complaint may be filed as pseudonymous by the CVO and no inquiry or investigation be initiated on them, it said.
