Political lobbyists working on behalf of big corporate houses better be careful. Big Brother is watching you.
The government has recently come out with a list, prepared by its investigative agencies, of undesirable contact men.
The listed individuals are suspected of resorting to dubious and irregular practices in order to influence government decisions, and any official dealings between them and civil servants have been sought to be discouraged.
Listed are officials of well-known business houses, non-resident Indians and promoters of small companies, whose influence extends to various ministries like finance, petroleum, telecommunications, defence, commerce, external affairs, power, agriculture, information and broadcasting and departments like the Delhi Police.
The list has been prepared in accordance with the instructions contained under the 'Programme for Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Work', circulated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to serve three key objectives.
First, ministries, departments and undertakings have been advised to issue directions to their officers to be cautious in dealing with these contact men and avoid associating with them socially.
Secondly, the investigative agencies have been asked to keep an eye on the activities of these men and try and collect information about specific instances of malpractices in which they may have been involved.
Thirdly, the information contained in the list will be used while considering cases of accreditation of representatives of companies.
Government officials have been asked to keep a note of any malpractice on the part of these individuals or of government servants dealing with them and intimate the investigative agencies about it.
Not only will these men not be allowed to sponsor government projects, foreign missions will also be briefed about them and the firms they represent. The missions will also be asked to keep a close watch on their activities.
To ensure that all departments and ministries are vigilant and act in unison while dealing with these men, the government has suggested that officials below the level of deputy secretary be informed about them.
If the names are conveyed to lower-ranking officials, it may be done orally and the chief vigilance officers in these departments should maintain a list of such officers from time to time. Secretary-level officials have also been advised to selectively convey names of such persons under their respective ministries.
The list will be reviewed annually and circulated after necessary additions or deletions.