SOP issued on prior nod to probe corrupt govt servants

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 6

The Union Ministry of Personnel has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) for police officers on how and when to seek mandatory prior approval before conducting any investigation against public servants who could be allegedly involved in corruption.

The SOP comes three years after an amendment to the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988, carried out in July 2018. This bars a police officer from conducting “any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant” without “the previous approval” of the authorities.

The SOP will standardise procedures with a view to achieving uniform and effective implementation when prior approval processes.

The SOP provide for stage-wise processing of information received by a police officer, it specifies the rank of the police officer who will seek prior approval and lay down a procedure.