Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport

F. No. 11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-III Desk

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated 28th March, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of vigilance clearance for obtaining passport.

The undersigned is directed to say that matter regarding guidelines for granting vigilance clearance to members of the Central Civil Service holding Central Civil Posts have been reviewed and it has been decided to lay down guidelines for grant of vigilance clearance to the Government servant for obtaining Indian Passport.

2. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has issued the guidelines for issuance of ordinary Passport to the Government servant vide O.M. No. VI/401/01/05/2014 dated 26.05.2015 in connection with procedures to be the followed in case of passport to be issued to Government servant.

3. In view of the above, it is mandatory for the administrative Department/Controlling Authority to check whether any provision of the Section 6(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 are attracted in the case of employee, who are working under them, while obtaining Indian Passport. As such, it is required to check the vigilance clearance of such Government servant.

4. Accordingly, it has been decided that vigilance clearance can be withheld only under the following circumstances:

(i) The officer is under suspension;

(ii) A charge sheet has been issued against the officer in a disciplinary proceeding and
the proceeding is pending.

(iii) Charge sheet has been filed in a Court by the investigating Agency in a criminal case and the case is pending.

(iv) Sanction for investigation or prosecution has been granted by the Competent Authority in a case under the PC Act or any other criminal matter.

(v) An FIR has been filed or a case has been registered by any Government entity against the officer, after a preliminary fact finding inquiry.

(vi) The officer is involved in a trap/ raid case on charges of corruption and investigation is pending.

5. Vigilance clearance shall not be withheld due to an FIR filed on the basis of a private complaint unless a charge-sheet has been filed by the investigating agency provided that there are no directions to the contrary by a competent court of law. However, the information regarding FIR may be provided to the Passport Office. The final decision will be taken by the concerned Passport Issuing Authority.

6. There may be situations wherein wards and relatives of the civil servants residing abroad (for education and other purposes) could be having medical emergencies or family events. The officer himself/ herself may require to visit abroad for medical reasons. Therefore, as a policy, ordinarily, a passport will not be granted if a disciplinary proceeding is pending against the officer. However, the competent authority can take a view wherein a foreign travel is necessitated due to extreme urgent situation like medical emergencies etc. on case to case basis.

7. All Ministries/ Departments/Offices are requested to bring the above guidelines to the notice of all Disciplinary Authorities under their control.

8. Hindi version will follow.

(Sanjiv Kumar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Source: DoPT

Pension to retired personnel

Pension to retired personnel

There are demands from the in service and retired Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles (AR) personnel for extending One Rank One Pension (OROP). CAPF & AR personnel retire only on attaining the age of 57/60 years and they are entitled for pension and other pensionary benefits as per Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972. These rules are different from the pension rules applicable to Ex-Servicemen. Further CAPF & AR personnel, who are appointed on or after 01/01/2004 are covered under New Pension System (NPS).

The Government has taken several steps for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel including Next of Kin (NoK) of CAPFs personnel who lay down their lives for the country. Following benefits, inter alia, are given to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel including the Next of Kin (NoK) of those who lay down their lives for the country:-

(i) Ex-gratia lump-sum compensation @ Rs.35 lacs for death on active duty and @Rs. 25 lakhs for death on duty, as the case may be, is entitled to the Next of Kin of the deceased personnel.

(ii) The NoK of the deceased is entitled to get Liberalized Family Pension (i.e. last pay drawn) under Central Civil Service (Extra Ordinary Pension) Rules, 1939 and other pensionary benefits as admissible.

(iii) 5% vacancies are reserved in Group "C" & "D" for compassionate appointments for NoK of the deceased personnel.

(iv) Under the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme, amount @ Rs.2250/- pm for girls and Rs.2000/- pm for boys is being released to the wards of serving/retired CAPFs personnel. Prime Minister Scholarship is admissible to 1000 girls and 1000 boys.

(v) There is a reservation of 15 MBBS and 02 BDS seats for the wards of CAPFs personnel in the seats of Central Government for these courses.

(vi) Central Police Canteens at various locations in the country have been functioning.

(vii) A Welfare and Rehabilitation Board has been established for the welfare and rehabilitation of CAPFs personnel and their families including differently abled personnel.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to question by Shri Kamal Nath and Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB