Vigilance award given to Punjab National Bank by CVC questioned

The vigilance awards given by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to government bodies and individuals for carrying out good practices to curb corruption, have been questioned after it came to light that the Punjab National Bank (PNB) received one such award in October last year. Officials said that in most cases, these awards are managed by top officials to make their profiles and resumés appear distinct and make them eligible for further lucrative postings. Under attack, the CVC last week released a clarification stating that PNB was awarded in the category “Timely Completion of Disciplinary Proceedings” and that the “the receipt of an award by any person or organisation has to be seen in the context in which it was issued”. As per documents seen by this newspaper, a Chief Vigilance Officer of an organisation can recommend himself for the award or ask his CMD to do so by giving a justification in a 1,000 word essay. Same is the method adopted in case of bank officials. In case an organisation (like in the PNB case) seeks the award, the entry is to be forwarded by the CMD with a study of the initiative taken to curb graft in not more than 1,000 words.