INDIAN EXPRESS STORY ON HARASSMENT OF PSU CHIEFS BASELESS
CABINET
SECRETARIAT CLARIFIES
The Indian Express
has carried news items, on 9th and 10th
November, 2003, reporting that the Chief Vigilance commissioner
(CVC) had complained to the Prime Minister that six Cabinet Ministers
were harassing PSU Chiefs for personal favours and even pay-offs.
This is to clarify
that, coinciding with the completion of one year of the reconstituted
Vigilance Commission, the CVC had briefed the Prime Minister last
month, when Cabinet Secretary was also present, about various
initiatives taken by the commission during the past one year.
In that meeting, the CVC also dwelt on the need to remove the
misplaced fear of vigilance in the minds of senior public sector
executives which often led to hesitation on their part in making
decisions. The CVC delineated various measures which could be
taken to build both autonomy and accountability in the functioning
of the PSUs.
The Prime Minister
directed that the issues raised by the CVC should be discussed
in a Committee of Secretaries. The meeting of that Committee is
yet to take place.
At no point in the
meeting did the CVC mention any names or make any allegations
against any Central Minister.
This is to set the
record straight and to emphasize that the news items carried by
the Indian Express have no basis whatsoever and are misleading.
