Key anti-corruption files "not traceable": Govt

The Department of Personnel and Training said the files related to UNCAC were not traceable

Files containing details of the government's plan of reviewing its fight against graft as part of a mandatory obligation under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) are "not presently traceable".

Replying to an RTI query, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as the nodal authority for anti- graft matters, said the files related to UNCAC were not traceable.

"It is informed that the implementation section has been constituted only recently and the complete set of the relevant files are in the process of being organised.

"The files relating to your subject of request are not presently traceable in the section. However, efforts are being made to locate the files," DoPT said in its reply to an RTI query filed by PTI.

"As and when the said files become physically available, the complete reply to your request on the aforesaid point will be furnished. The delay and inconvenience caused is regretted," DoPT said in its reply dated November 11.

DoPT was asked to provide details as to the government's plan of conducting a self-evaluation study to assess the implementation of the UN convention.

UNCAC, which acts as a universal legal instrument to globally deal with the menace of corruption, was ratified by India on May 9, 2011.

India is slated for a review in the ongoing fiscal 2013- 14 by government experts from two other member countries who are signatories to UNCAC.

DoPT had in May last year floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the holding of a self-evaluation study by independent experts on India's compliance with UNCAC.