Thomas issued most of the circulars claiming that they are intended to wipe out corruption and expedite office procedures. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala vigilance director N C Asthana, headed for deputation to the Centre, has revoked 31 of the 36 circulars issued by his controversial predecessor Jacob Thomas. Among those trashed is a circular that mandated Vigilance clearance for all appointments, including top-level ones. Asthana, director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), acted under government direction, it is understood.
Thomas issued most of the circulars claiming that they are intended to wipe out corruption and expedite office procedures. However, police chief Loknath Behera, who held additional charge of vigilance after Thomas, realised that all complaints will turn into police cases if these circulars are followed.
The government, acting upon Behera's advice, had annulled a circular issued by Thomas that had decentralised powers and allowed station house officers to investigate complaints received at unit-range levels and take action on their own. The home secretary issued an order which insisted that all complaints should be forwarded to the vigilance headquarters, and that the director's permission is essential to file a case.
Behera, before handing over vigilance to Asthana, had named a panel comprising an SP and two Dy SPs to examine the legal validity of the circulars issued by Thomas. Astana has now acted on the recommendations of the panel.
Main circulars invalid
The orders on settlement of complaints, directive to investigating officers, social auditing of different departments, campaign against corruption and reward for whistle-blowers have been cancelled. The panel had found that these circulars breached the Vigilance Manual and were impractical.
A circular that sought strengthening of the internal vigilance system at the Secretariat, government offices and semi-government establishments to spot staff members who do not work is also no longer valid. A proposal on internal audit, set once in four months or twice an year, at all offices to find out how many files are lying unattended and how many have been acted upon has also been revoked.
Only five circulars, issued under directives of the Supreme Court and the High Court, have been retained.
Fate of cases
Investigating officers are worried about the fate of cases registered on the basis of the annulled circulars of Thomas. Further investigation proceedings in some of these cases were built on the basis of some of these circulars. However, a top Vigilance officer said the cases won't be affected as they are not registered solely on the basis of circulars.
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