The Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s General Administration Department (Vigilance) has issued updated instructions to streamline the process of handling complaints against public servants. The directive aims to balance the objectives of establishing a corruption-free, transparent, and responsive administration, while also protecting honest public servants from false, frivolous, or malicious allegations.
Circular No. 14-JK(GAD) Dated 20.06.2024
The latest circular notifies all Administrative Departments, Heads of Departments, Cadre Controlling Authorities, and public servants of reinforced measures to safeguard public servants from undue harassment resulting from baseless complaints. Despite rigorous instructions issued previously, there has been an increase in reports of public servants being unfairly targeted through false complaints, leading to unwarranted distress and administrative inertia.
Key Instructions and Measures
The administration has laid out a set of procedures, including legal recourse, for those affected by such complaints:
- Prosecution Under Penal Provisions: The circular states that action may be taken under section 182 of the Indian Penal Code against individuals making false complaints.
- Legal Actions and Departmental Proceedings: Initiating prosecution under section 195(1)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is recommended, along with considering departmental actions as an alternative to prosecution.
- Institutional Support and Remedies: The government is committed to supporting its employees by assisting public servants in approaching the Crime Branch, facilitating lawsuits for compensation against the complainants, and providing legal assistance through the Department of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs.
- Formal Inquiries and Transparency: The process for conducting formal inquiries by the relevant authorities is outlined, with a stress on publicizing such inquiries to maintain transparency.
- Actions Against Erroneous Publications: The circular addresses the issue of publications involved in spreading false allegations, with steps including reporting matters to the Press Council of India and revoking accreditation if necessary.
Conclusion and Contact Information
Public servants and relevant departments have been advised to adopt these revised instructions to protect the integrity of government operations and prevent interruptions in public service delivery. This document serves to underscore the commitment of the Jammu and Kashmir administration to its zero-tolerance policy against corruption and false accusations.
For any further information or to report any issues, the circular is signed by Sanjeev Verma IAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, and dated 20.06.2024, referencing No.GAD-VIGOCOMP/154/2021-09-GAD.
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