A step towards better governance :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

Most immediate
NO. 1041 100/2009-AVD.1
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Personnel & Training)
New Delhi, Dated January 14, 2010
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Complaints against Secretaries to the Government
of India -procedure for handling regarding.

The procedure regarding handling complaints against
Secretaries to theGovernment of India, whether
pseudonymous or otherwise, has been attracting
attention of the Government. It has been observed that
under the systempresently prevalent, complaints against
Secretaries to the Government of Indiaare sent to the
Department of Personnel and Training or the administrative
Ministries concerned for examination and necessary action.
Sometimes frivolous or vague complaints are also given
importance meant for grave complaints. It is considered
appropriate that complaints against Secretaries to
the Government of India are scrutinized carefully and
appropriate action taken based on their gravity, seriousness
and the nature of the allegations.
2. It has, therefore, been decided to constitute a group, under
the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary, to take a view on
such complaints. The constitution of the group shall be as
follows:-
(i) Cabinet Secretary
(ii) Secretary to the Prime Minister
(iii) Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat
(iv) Secretary, DOPT, and
(v) Secretary, CVC
3. Complaints against Secretaries to the Government of India,
whether pseudonymous or otherwise, received by the Cabinet
Secretariat or the CVC or the DOPT or the Prime Minister's
Office, will be first scrutinised by the group headed by the
Cabinet Secretary. This group, after reviewing the complaints,
would proceed as follows:-
a) If there is no substance in the complaint or the complaint
is frivolous in nature, the group would close the complaint and
inform the relevant office from where the complaint was received;
b) In case the preliminary scrutiny of the complaint indicates
that there is some substance in it or there are verifiable allegations,
the group could do one or more of the following:-
* Seek the comments of the Secretary concerned;
Call for the concerned file(s);
Call for the relevant records, including annual property
returns, other reports etc.
4. Having received appropriate inputs on the complaints, the
group will then proceed in the following manner:-
* In case the records/comments indicate that there is no
substance in the complaint, it will be closed.
If after scrutiny, it is felt that there is some substance in the
complaint, a view would have to be taken by the group
regarding the nature of the investigation called for and an
appropriate recommendation made in this regard.
Thereafter, the recommendation would be submitted to the
Disciplinary Authority, for action as deemed fit.
5. Since the group constituted will also be looking into the
complaints received by the CVC under the CVC Act or the
Public Interest Disclosure Resolution, the CVC shall be kept
informed at regular intervals about the status of the scrutiny/
review undertaken by the group into complaintsforwarded
by the CVC.
"-----i ( Dr. S. K. Sarkar )
Additional Secretary
14/01/2010
Cabinet Secretary,
Secretary to PM
Secretary (Coordination) in the Cabinet Secretariat
Secretary, DOPT
Secretary, CVC
Copy to:
(i) Additional Secretary(S&V), DOP&T
(ii) Joint Secretary(V), DOP&T
(iii)Prime Minister's Office (Ms. V. Vidyavathi, Director)
(iv) Cabinet Secretariat (Ms. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Director)
(v) cvc
(vi) US(AVD .I), DOP&T