Graft complaints to be settled within 60 days, directs PMO

By NewsGram Staff Writer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office has directed all the central departments to warrant prosecution against officials caught wallowing in the act of corruption within the time period of 60 days. The ministers have been asked to enforce the "rule of law" after a proper vigilance inquiry.

As reported by The Indian Express, all corruption cases or complaints that have been pending in departments for reference to the vigilance section are also to be sent for inquiry within the deadline so that an outcome against the alleged offenders is identified and implemented accordingly.

"The direction is that all such cases should be cleared immediately and there should not be any pendency of such cases beyond 60 days", said the report.

The directive from the PMO introduces a new norm for officials operating at sensitive posts. Reportedly each department has been asked to identify desks handling secret or confidential issues on national and economic security, and annually rotate officials handling them on a date decided in advance.

In sectors and services where public interface is high or which impact the daily affairs of the masses, the direction is that licence or other applications should not remain pending beyond a prescribed time period.

The PMO has also instructed officials to identify and eradicate the areas where the middlemen operate, especially in the municipal and urban development sections.

In an open letter to the nation on Tuesday to mark completion of one year in office, Prime Minister Modi said his government had dealt with "unabated corruption".

"Uncompromising adherence to the principle of purity, in action as well as intent, ensured a corruption-free government," he wrote in the letter.