
## Vital Stats Corruption Cases Against Government Officials Corruption Cases Against Government Officials Corruption Cases Against Government Officials Corruption Cases Against Government Officials

The agitation led by Anna Hazare has focussed on the formation of a Lok Pal to address the issue of corruption.  We look at some data on the existing systems of identifying and prosecuting cases of corruption against public officials. 

## The Government Has Frequently Delayed Sanction For Prosecuting Officials

� Prosecution of public servants for corruption may usually be 
taken up only after the respective government gives sanction to do so.  This provision is designed to protect honest officials 
from harassment. 
� However, the provision may be misused by delaying response 
to requests for sanction. 
� As of end-2010, the central government had not provided 
responses to 236 requests.  Of these, 155 requests (66%) were 
pending for over three months. 
� State governments had not responded to 84 requests, of which 
13 (15%) were pending for more than three months. 

## 6% Of The Cases Were Taken Up For Prosecution, And 94% Were Given Departmental Penalties

� The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is the premier 
agency tasked to tackle corruption cases within the central government. 
� Between 2005 and 2009, penalties were imposed on 13,061 
cases (average 2612 per year) based on the CVC's advice.  
� This included 846 cases (annual average 169) in which 
sanction was granted for criminal prosecution. 
� Major penalties were imposed in 4895 cases (annual average 
979).  These include dismissal, reduction to lower rank, cut in 
pension etc. 
� Minor penalties such as censure were imposed on 5356 cases 
(annual average 1071), and administrative action was taken in 1964 cases (annual average 393). 

## The Main Investigating Agency, The Cbi, Is Understaffed

 
� The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the main agency 
used by the CVC to investigate cases of corruption and 
misuse of office by public officials. 
� As of December 2010, 21% of the sanctioned posts in CBI 
were vacant. 
� This includes 52% of the posts of law officers, 65% of 
technical officers and 21% of executive officers. 

## The Courts Have Also Been Slow In Deciding Cbi Cases

 � The criminal justice system has also been slow in 
prosecuting the CBI cases. 
� As of end-2010, there were 9,927 CBI cases pending in 
courts. 
� Of these, 2,245 cases (23% of the total) were pending for 
more than 10 years.  

## The Whistleblower Mechanism Has Received Only A Few Hundred Complaints Every Year Number Of Whistleblower Complaints Received By Cvc

� After the murder of Satyendra Dubey, the Supreme Court 
directed the government in 2004 to put a mechanism to act on complaints from whistleblowers. 
� In April 2004, the government passed a resolution to 
empower the CVC to act on complaints from whistleblowers. 
� In the five years from 2005 to 2009, the CVC received a 
total of 1,731 complaints, or an annual average of 346. 
� The government has introduced the Public Interest 
Disclosure Bill, 2010, which is currently being examined by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.  

## 

�ote: 
The composition of CBI cases is not readily available. Whereas a majority of the cases relate to corruption, CBI investigates other cases too.  This note is based on data obtained from the websites of the CVC and the CBI. 

DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information.  You may choose to reproduce or redistribute this report for non-commercial purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PRS Legislative Research ("PRS").  The document has been prepared without regard to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it. 