CVC instructs govt officials not to accept gifts

NEW DELHI, Oct 16 (UNI): The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has issued instructions to government officials and other employees not to accept gifts on festivals, including Diwali.

The Commission, in an order on September 22, said it was reiterating its instructions to discourage acceptance of gifts by government servants on the occasion of Diwali, Commission officials said today.

The Commission had issued similar instructions last year also prohibiting public sector undertakings from giving gifts to government officials on festivals and instructed government officials not to accept gifts.

It also issued instructions enhancing the existing limit of Rs 25 lakh to Rs one crore for referring bank fraud cases to CBI for inquiry.

On the advice of the Commission, the CBI filed charge-sheets in 87 cases and also received sanction for prosecution in 57 cases.

CVC officials said that in September, the Commission disposed of 478 cases referred to it for advice and made recoveries to the tune of Rs 7.77 crore during the month.

It also advised prosecution against 41 officials during the month.

The 41 officials against whome prosecution proceedings were launched included 10 from Insurance Companies, eight from Telecom Department and four from DDA.

The Commission also sanctioned prosecution against 17 officials and advised major penalty proceedings in 136 cases.

During the first nine months of this year, The Commission advised prosecution against 209 officials, sanctioned prosecution against 68, advised major penalty proceedings against 1544 officials and imposed major penalty against 1315 officials.