NDMC councillors criticise vigilance dept

The functioning of vigilance department was strongly criticised at a special House meeting of North Delhi Municipal Corporation today with councillors cutting across party lines slamming it for failing to take action against those involved in corruption.
The House meeting was called with a single point agenda to improve the functioning of the vigilance department.
A committee, headed by Standing Committee Chairman, will now be formed to suggest ways to improve the functioning of the department.
Kicking off the debate, Leader of the House Mahendra Nagpal criticised the department for failing to file charge sheets against those suspected of corruption or violating rules.

"The maximum time allowed for an investigation to be completed is three months. But in the reply furnished to the House, over 306 RDA cases are pending after the trifurcation of the corporation that happened a year ago," he said.
RDA refers to Regular Department Action where cases are sent to Vigilance department for action.

According to the reply furnished in the House, 146 cases are pending before the Director of Inquiry, while 40 are pending before Special Inquiry Officers.
As many as 36 complaints received from the Central Vigilance Commission are yet to be taken up for investigation.
"When the CVC has sent these complaints, it is clear that they are of very serious nature. Yet, these have not been expedited," BJP councillor Shobha Vijendra said.

She also furnished documents that allegedly showed a parking contractor as having produced fake documents of his property to secure the contract.
"I demand to know what has been done in cases like this, including the one I have stated just now?" she asked.
In his reply, Commissioner P K Gupta assured the councillor that the Additional Commissioner's report in the case is almost ready.