The government has decided to take the media's help to fight corruption by disclosing details about corruption cases regularly, but taking care not to divulge anything about individuals till the cases have reached finality.
In a circular issued by the Department of Personnel, all government offices have been asked to strengthen the vigilance mechanism by giving wide publicity to the government's anti-corruption policies and their implementation.
Pointing out that the government and the Central Vigilance Commission are taking measures to tackle the menace of corruption, the circular stressed that concerted efforts are required from the vigilance units in the Ministries/Departments/PSUs/Organisations to act as a focal point in curbing corruption.
The circular also refers to the Second Administrative Reforms Commission's report on 'Ethics in Governance' that calls for the government agencies to take help of the media in the fight against corruption by disclosing details about corruption cases regularly.
All ministries and departments were, therefore, called upon "to continue giving emphasis on anti-corruption mechanisms and give due publicity to various anti-corruption measures taken, through both electronic and print media.
"Special emphasis may, in particular, be laid on publicising systemic reforms for reducing opportunity for corruption, minimising scope for discretion, streamlining procedures and bringing about improvement in transparency using Web based technology etc."
The circular further stressed that "cases of deterrent punitive action, which have reached finality both in regard to conviction and major penalties of dismissal, removal from service and compulsory retirement may also be appropriately publicised on a periodic basis."
It also warned against suppressing "any change in the status of such action on account of any further orders, including those passed in appeal/revision/review or by the CAT/Courts in regard to these cases."
"It will also be necessary to ensure that the details regarding individuals may not be divulged till the cases have reached finality keeping the due sensitivities involved in the matter in view," the circular added.