PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government has made it mandatory annual filing of property returns by Group A and B officers for obtaining vigilance clearance, a prerequisite for key service-related matters, including promotions.The decision came into effect on January 4 after chief secretary M Sathiyavathy, who is also the chief vigilance officer, issued an order based on the instructions by the Union Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances and Pensions.“Vigilance clearance would be denied to an officer who failed to submit annual property returns of previous year by January 31 of the following year, as required under Rule 18 of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964,” the order said.Service-related issues, including promotion, regularisation, confirmation, retirement, resignation and issue of No Objection Certificate to go abroad will be decided only on the basis of vigilance clearance.Of late, Puducherry had been witnessing anti-corruption cases against many officers, several of which were being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Puducherry administration had issued an order as early as in 1969 regarding submission of property returns, but there had not been full compliance by the officials. Subsequent orders in 2009 and 2010 had reiterated the need to submit the returns, but most officers failed to submit property returns. Due to incomplete receipt of property returns, the government had been unable to give a satisfactory reply to questions in this regard raised in the Territorial Assembly. On several occasions, chief ministers had faced embarrassment in the Assembly. All heads of departments have been now directed to state whether the official(s) for whom vigilance clearance is sought, had submitted their property returns in time.The proforma for furnishing the service particulars as communicated earlier on Sept 18, 1997 had been amended and the revised one was communicated.
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