JAIPUR: The state home department on Friday ordered for the strict implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre under Section 17 (A) of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, 2018 so that public servant can discharge his official duties fearlessly.
It is required that for various inquires, interrogation, investigation of a public servant, only officer of ACB of the equivalent rank of the public servant can do.
According to the standard procedure, guidelines have been issued for inquiry, investigation and research by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) after receiving complaints regarding the decisions taken by the public servants in the course of official work.
It is noteworthy that Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Punjab and other states have already implemented this standard procedure in compliance with the Centre’s SOPs.
The officer of ACB has to first take permission from the competent authority of the concerned administrative department in the prescribed form before initiating inquiry, investigation against any public servant.
As per the guidelines issued by the home department, ministers, MLAs, public servants of pay level 15 and above under the Seventh Pay Commission, chairman and members of various boards, commissions, corporations and political units, director general of police working in ACB or only officers of its equivalent level will only be able to inquire and investigate after obtaining permission from the level of the competent authority.
Similarly, for interrogation of public servants from pay level 21 to 24, only the additional director general of police of ACB or its equivalent officer will be able to inquire and investigate after obtaining permission from the competent level.
Inspector general of police (IG) or deputy inspector general (DIG) of police or equivalent level officer for interrogation and investigation of public servants from pay level 12 to 20 of state service officers and superintendent of police for interrogation and investigation of subordinate, ministerial and class IV public servants. However, the SOP will not be applicable in cases of trap.
