Consider pre-CVC vetting to avoid murky deals: Par panel

Involvement of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in defence deals can help avoid "murky" deals and blacklisting of firms, a Parliamentary Panel has said.
Taking note of the increased military expenditure of neighbouring countries, the Committee said, "India should also expand the size of allocation it made in Defence Budget so that Indian forces are fully equipped with modern weaponry."
The standing committee on defence instructed the Defence ministry to consider "pre-CVC vetting" of the firms to ensure highest degree of probity and public accountability.
"... Pre-CVC vetting of defence procurement could avoid murky transactions in defence deals to take place... In the absence of such policy, it would lead to blacklisting of companies, which will result in devoidance of critical technology to the country," the Committee said in its report.

The report, which was tabled in Parliament today, said, "pre-CVC vetting may be considered by the Defence Ministry."
It also noted that though the Ministry has taken sufficient measures for maintaining probity, accountability and transparency in its operations, "yet scams do surface without any break".

The Ministry, in its action-taken report, had told the Committee that, "While blacklisting of some companies sometimes result in non-availability of rarest technology, but at the same time it provides an opportunity for indigenous development of critical technologies and act as deterrent."
The standing committee also asked the Defence Ministry to "explicitly" spell out whether any concrete action plan has been put in place for the increase in allocation for the purpose in the future.

"Ministry has not shown any commitment to increase the capital ratio in comparison to revenue ratio for the forces," it noted.