CVC amends SOP for adoption of Integrity Pact in govt. organisations
Recently the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has amended the Standard Operating Procedure for implementation of Integrity Pact (IP).
Integrity Pact envisages an agreement between potential sellers/bidders and buyers.
This Agreement commits the persons and officers of both the parties not to exercise any corrupt practices/options in any part or phase of the contract entered into.
It is implemented through a panel of Independent External Monitors (IEMs) appointed by the organisation.
All IEMs report to Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs).
Key provisions of the new rules
- The IEMs will be selected from a panel of eminent persons/officers only. These persons/officers should be retired from the post of Additional Secretary in the Government of India or equivalent or any other post in the higher scale.
- In the existing rules issued in June 2021, only officers of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, Chief Secretaries of States or officers posted in equivalent pay scale were considered at the time of retirement.
- From amongst the retired officers of the Armed Forces, only those officers who are of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India or equivalent or above will be eligible.
- The amendments would make available a sufficient number of IEMSs to test government contracts.
- CVOs are the apex vigilance body. It is free from the control of any executive authority. It supervises all vigilance activities under the central government.
- At the same time, it also provides advice to various officers in Central Government organizations in planning, implementing, reviewing and improving their vigilance related functions.
Source – The Hindu
