RAKSHA MANTRI MET THE CENTRAL VIGILANCE
COMMISSIONER
The Defence Minister
Shri George Fernandes today met the Central Vigilance Commissioner
and his colleague Shri HJ Dora, Vigilance Commissioner to jointly
review the progress of the cases under examination by the Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC). The meeting was attended by the Defence
Secretary and other senior officials of the Defence Ministry and
the Secretary, CVC.
The Defence Minister
had in February, 2000 directed that all major procurement decisions
that have been taken in the Ministry of defence since the presence
of agents was banned by the Government in 1985-86, should be referred
to the CVC for thorough investigation. It was decided that procurement
cases valued at Rs. 75 crores and above would be sent to CVC for
detailed investigation so as to impart focus to the enquiry. In
addition, the Defence Minister had also directed that cases where
serious allegations have been made regarding presence of agents,
middlemen be also referred to CVC for detailed investigation.
As the investigation progressed, certain other procurement cases
were also taken up by the CVC for investigation. Apart from these,
cases arising out of source information received by the CVC were
referred to the Ministry of Defence asking for relevant files.
CVC has been sending
reports on the investigation into various categories of cases
referred to CVC and detailed examination of these cases on a continuing
basis has been progressing in consultation with the Ministry.
In the review meeting
today some broad issues were discussed in general pertaining to
the detailed examinations of the cases mentioned above.
The significant changes
effected recently in the Defence Procurement in order to streamline
the procurement system and to make the same transparent and efficient
was noted by the CVC. He expressed satisfaction at the progress
made by the Ministry in framing the new Procurement Procedure.
He added that further additions to this procedure, which are under
finalization, should achieve the desired efficiency and transparency.
The progress on the
implementation of the recommendations of CVC on the specific cases
was also reviewed. In the course of the discussion general and
systemic bottlenecks, which have been preventing expeditious implementation
of the recommendations of CVC were identified. A decision was
taken to streamline these processes and systems in order to take
care of the said bottlenecks, so that the cases could be finalized
in a reasonable time frame.
CVC made certain
suggestions for making the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Ministry
more effective, including restructuring the organization of CVO
and to expand its ambit so that the vigilance set up of certain
sensitive offices in the MOD could be revamped.
While concluding
the meeting, the Defence Minister requested CVC to continue helping
out the Ministry of Defence, as it has been doing over the last
several years, in order to bring about greater transparency in
defence purchases, to which CVC kindly agreed.
