The UPA government plans to make a key amendment in the All India Services Rules to prevent corrupt IAS/IPS officers from taking refuge under the state governments they work for.As per the proposed amendment to Rule 6, officers shall be deemed to be on Central deputation a month after a request in this regard has been sent to the state government concerned.The idea, said government sources, is to bring corrupt officers to the Centre so that action can be initiated against them.As of now, Rule 6 states that in case of differences between the Centre and state over deputation of an officer, the view of the Centre will prevail. But what happens often is that states do not allow the officer to proceed to the Centre.The amendment will also expand the scope of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), empowering it to monitor activities of all IAS/IPS officers and not just those serving at the Centre. If the amendment is okayed, the CVC and internal security agencies can prepare monthly reports on IAS/IPS officers who are under the scanner.Once these officers are placed on Central deputation, action will be initiated on the basis of reports by the CVC—it will consult respective state vigilance commissions—and internal security agencies, without any interference from the state, the sources said.This draft amendment will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and district magistrates from all states on May 19-20 in New Delhi, sources said.The amendment, they said, is central to the government’s efforts to root out corruption in the All India Services.Currently, state governments can refuse to go along with the Centre’s move to order, for instance, a CBI inquiry against a particular IAS/IPS officer. Consider these:• Finding charges against UP’s former chief secretary Akhand Pratap Singh prima facie valid—he was voted most corrupt officer by the UP IAS Officers’ Association—the Centre initiated a probe against him. In 1999, then PM Atal Behari Vajpayee’s office even ordered a CBI inquiry. For three years, the state government sat on the request, Singh went on to become UP Chief Secretary and was even cleared for extension till the courts intervened on the basis of a PIL. It was only after his retirement that Akhand Pratap Singh was raided by CBI two months ago.• The Centre initiated a CBI probe against UP Chief Secretary Neera Yadav, voted as the second most corrupt officer by the Association. The CBI chargesheeted her in six cases—proceedings in four were stayed by the Allahabad HC—and two are being taken up at the CBI court in Ghaziabad. A former Supreme Court judge has been asked to inquire into allegations against Yadav and public notices were sent this week.
