The Haryana Government has appointed serving and retired officers to the post of Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in the Vigilance Department, Haryana on deputation and contract basis, respectively. 

Serving officers appointed to the position of Chief Vigilance Officer include Sh. Deepak Burua, District Attorney (DA), HRD, Haryana Civil Secretariat, Sh. Dinesh Rathee, S.E. Irrigation & Water Resources Department and Sh. Krishan Kumar, Joint Director, Technical Education while retired officers includes Sh. Jarnail Singh Boparai, Group Captain (Retd), Indian Air Force, Sh. Mahavir Singh, GM-cum-CVO(Retd), HSIIDC, Sh. Rajender Kumar Malik, Inspector General (Retd),HAG, Sh. Shashi Kant Sharma, Additional Director (Retd), Prosecution, Sh. Rameshwar Mehra, Additional Excise & Taxation Commissioner (Retd), Sh. Sanjiv Kumar Jain, DA(Retd), Prosecution Department., Sh. Satish Kumar Jain, HCS (Retd) and Sh. Ashok Kumar Sharma, IAS (Retd), MD, HSWC. 

A circular issued in this regard by Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal states that the CVO will be head of the vigilance division of an organization and act as a special assistant/advisor to the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department on all vigilance matters. The multifaceted role involves preventive vigilance functions, aiming to thwart corrupt practices by identifying potential corruption spots and sources.

The CVO engages in intelligence collection related to corruption, sensitizing stakeholders, and promoting awareness against corrupt practices. Moreover, punitive vigilance, including spot inquiry and investigation into corruption allegations, is conducted, with reports submitted for the consideration of the disciplinary authority concerned.

CVOs will play a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining a robust whistle-blower mechanism. This involves the creation and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) meticulously designed for gathering information from the general public. These procedures must adhere rigorously to the guidelines outlined by the Haryana Government, particularly concerning the handling of anonymous or pseudonymous complaints. 

Scrutiny Inspections and Surprise Checking:

Mandated with ensuring the integrity of ongoing projects, CVOs has been directed to conduct thorough scrutiny inspections and surprise checks within the concerned Department/Board/Corporation. Special attention is to be given towards areas prone to discretion or favoritism, such as the awarding of tenders, the progression of civil works, and instances of potential abuse of discretionary powers in decision-making processes. Following these assessments, CVOs are required to submit detailed findings, accompanied by recommendations for rectifying identified irregularities, to the Administrative Secretary/Head of the Department.

CVOs will bear the responsibility of overseeing disciplinary proceedings at all stages, with a particular emphasis on strict adherence to rules and time limits. Regular updates on the progress of departmental inquiries, initiated based on Anti-Corruption Bureau recommendations, must be communicated to the Vigilance Department, along with detailed reports on decisions reached. Monthly updates on the list of pending disciplinary cases are to be submitted to the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department for comprehensive review.

Furthermore, copies of these recommendations are to be endorsed and forwarded to both the Chief Secretary, Haryana, and the Special Secretary, Vigilance Department.

Close Monitoring of Prosecution Sanction Cases:

The responsibility of closely monitoring all cases requiring prosecution sanction falls under the purview of CVOs. This encompasses ensuring that decisions are reached in a timely and judicious manner, maintaining the integrity of the overall vigilance process.

Monitoring of Disciplinary Cases Based on Vigilance Reports:

CVOs will bear the responsibility of overseeing disciplinary proceedings at all stages, with a particular emphasis on strict adherence to rules and time limits. Regular updates on the progress of departmental inquiries, initiated based on Anti-Corruption Bureau recommendations, must be communicated to the Vigilance Department, along with detailed reports on decisions reached. Monthly updates on the list of pending disciplinary cases are to be submitted to the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department for comprehensive review. In a proactive stance, CVOs are expected to prevent the lapse of cases involving public servants approaching retirement, addressing potential time constraints, and mitigating issues such as delays or laxity in processing vigilance cases, including file misplacement. Additionally, CVOs must ensure the swift and effective implementation of orders in cases involving retiring officers, adhering to established rules and procedures.

Meticulous Scrutiny of Reports:

The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) has been entrusted with the meticulous scrutiny of reports from various sources, including those from Internal auditors, Statutory auditors, and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The primary objective is to identify instances of misappropriation of funds and financial irregularities. Upon such identification, the CVO is authorized to initiate further inquiries or investigations, subject to the approval of the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department (HoD), to determine and assign responsibilities.

Review of Inspection Reports, Complaints, and Allegations:

Additionally, the CVO has been tasked with reviewing inspection reports, complaints, and allegations from the press, reports from Vidhan Sabha Committees, and similar sources. Any cases with a potential vigilance angle are to be identified and appropriate actions taken, again with the necessary approval. The CVO ensures the transparency of these processes by providing copies of all reports and suggestions to the Administrative Secretary/HoD, with mandatory endorsements to the Chief Secretary, Haryana, and the Special Secretary, Vigilance Department.

List of Officers of Doubtful Integrity (ODI):

On an annual basis, specifically in January, the CVO has been responsible for compiling and updating the List of Officers of Doubtful Integrity (ODI). This list includes the names of Gazetted Officers and subordinate ranks who have been convicted in a court of law or faced major penalties in criminal or disciplinary proceedings due to charges of lack of integrity or offenses involving moral turpitude. The inclusion criteria extend to officers against whom such proceedings are pending. The ODI list also considers officers prosecuted for these offenses but acquitted on technical grounds or with lingering suspicions of lack of integrity, even after acquittal on merits. The ODI list is to be consistently updated and published on the department's website, remaining in force for a period of three years.

Identification of Sensitive Posts and Periodical Rotation of Staff:

Working in collaboration with the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department, the CVO has been responsible for identifying and compiling a list of sensitive posts within the organization. These posts, characterized by significant discretion or potential corruption, warrant the implementation of a periodic rotation of staff every three years. This strategic measure aims to mitigate the risks associated with prolonged tenures in sensitive positions, fostering a system that minimizes the likelihood of corruption.

Scrutiny of Annual Property Returns:

Ensuring compliance with conduct rules, particularly concerning the disclosure of assets, liabilities, gifts, and transactions (including benami transactions), falls under the purview of the CVO. An essential responsibility includes the scrutiny of Annual Property Returns of at least 5% of employees annually, alongside an examination of intimations provided by public servants under the conduct rules. The CVO employs various means, including intelligence gathering from reliable sources, to identify instances of misconduct or malpractices. Subsequent actions are taken after obtaining approval from the Head of Department/Competent Authority. This multifaceted approach underscores the CVO's commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring accountability within the organization.

Complaints Relating to Corruption:

The Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) plays a critical role in addressing complaints related to corruption. Responsibilities include thorough scrutiny of all received complaints from various sources. The CVO ensures that complaints with potential vigilance angles are promptly investigated, taking appropriate action with the permission of the Administrative Secretary/Head of Department. If necessary, cases requiring further scrutiny by the Vigilance Department can be referred through the relevant Administrative Secretary. Additionally, complaints forwarded by the Vigilance Department to the Department/Boards/Corporations are diligently investigated by the Chief Vigilance Officers/Vigilance Officers, and an Action Taken report is submitted for further action through the Administrative Secretary.

Quarterly Reporting by the CVO:

The CVO, serving as the head of the Vigilance Division, submits quarterly reports on the activity and functioning of the Vigilance Wing within their respective Department/Boards/Corporations. These reports, in the prescribed format, provide insights into the ongoing vigilance measures and ensure transparency in the organizational vigilance framework.