The Prime Minister’s office has indicated that stricter rules could be introduced to punish those who file false or frivolous complaints of corruption against government officers.
Sources say the PM’s office is worried that shallow complaints could discourage or delay officials from taking decisions. It has reportedly asked for guidelines that will define how lawyers will be assigned in these cases to defend bureaucrats or others.
Currently, complaints against government officers are received by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Central Vigilance Commission. Sources have told NDTV that “a lot of manpower and time” is being spent on these frivolous complaints which are causing “a lot of heartburn and harassment”.
The PM’s office has asked the DoPT to emulate international standards to protect public servants in case of such unsubstantiated complaints. It is also being suggested that in cases of false complaints on officers, the government should become a party.
After being elected as PM last year, Narendra Modi had vowed to improve the bureaucracy and to remove red-tapism from India.