Vigilance clearance mandatory for govt employees to get passport in J&K

Ground Report | New Delhi: Vigilance clearance mandatory; The Jammu and Kashmir government has made vigilance clearance mandatory for obtaining a passport by a government employee, stating that in the current system, employees under suspension or facing departmental inquiry or prosecution on account of serious charges may be denied passports. There is no mechanism for this.

According to an order, the government said that there is an urgent need to direct all departments to issue NOCs for the issuance of passports only on the basis of vigilance clearance.

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“Passports to citizens including government servants are issued on the basis of verification done by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The present system does not include any mechanism which would help in deprivation of passports to such employees who are either under suspension or is facing departmental inquiry or prosecution on account of serious charges," the order reads.

It said that at present, a government employee is required to inform his employer only at Annexure-H to apply for a passport.

"The guidelines for obtaining passport have been reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India in consultation with the Central Vigilance Commission and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and OM No. F. No. 11012/ 7/2017-Estt.A-III dated 18 February 2020, detailed instructions have been issued for obtaining fresh vigilance clearance while considering grant of passport to Government servants."

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It reads that the Anti-Corruption Bureau, J&K has also brought to the notice of the Government that the existing mechanism for issuance of passports to Government servants without obtaining necessary vigilance clearance has resulted in the issuance of passports to those employees against whom vigilance cases are filed. are pending.

"Accordingly, as per OM dated 18th February 2020 issued by DoPT, Government of India, the Heads of all Administrative Departments/Departments have been directed to compulsorily obtain the latest Vigilance Clearance in respect of an employee applying for a passport," the order further reads.

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