Central Pollution Control Board issues Guidelines for Vigilance Complaint Handling Mechanism

The Central Pollution Control Board (“CPCB”) has issued Guidelines for Vigilance Complaint Handling Mechanism, adhering to Central Vigilance Commission (“CVC”) directives. These guidelines outline the process for handling complaints against CPCB officials involving vigilance angles such as corruption, misuse of position, or gross negligence.

Key highlights:

1. The Vigilance Cell handles enquiries into complaints against CPCB officials for corruption, illegal gratification, misappropriation, forgery, gross negligence, or reckless discretion. Complaints must pertain strictly to CPCB officials and exclude personal grievances, sub-judice matters, or vague/general allegations.
2. Complainants seeking confidentiality should file complaints as Whistle Blower Complaints under Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer Resolution (PIDPIR) directly with CVC or with the nominated Designated Authorities concerned (CVO, MoEF&CC).
3. Anonymous or pseudonymous complaints are not accepted as per the latest CVC’s Circular.
4. Complainants sent through written communication/letter must provide their full name, complete postal address, and contact details (mobile/telephone number, if any) to help establish the authenticity of the complaint. Complaint should be signed by the Complainant.
5. Additionally, email complaints must contain the postal address (with mobile/telephone number, if any) of the sender. The complaints on email received without postal address and without any signed enclosures will be treated as anonymous and pseudonymous and will be filed without any action.
6. The complaint should be brief, specific details of the matter with adequate evidence, factual, and verifiable facts. Vague allegations, generalizations, or absurd claims are liable to be dismissed without action. The complainants are also advised not to continue sending complaints on the same subject repeatedly.
7. Complaints may be submitted through the following modes:
   • By post – to be directly addressed in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential” to Chairman, or Member Secretary, or Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), CPCB at Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Sahadara, Delhi-110032; or
   • By email to the below mentioned IDs:
     • Chairman: ccb.cpcb@nic.in; (Ph: 011-22304948 / 011-22307233)
     • Member Secretary: mscb.cpcb@nic.in; (Ph: 011-22307078 / 011-22303655)
     • CVO: vigilance.cpcb@gov.in; (Ph: 011-43102445 / 011-22391519).

Source: Central Pollution Control Board