Fresh guidelines drawn up by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions state that government officers facing criminal or corruption charges will be denied vigilance clearance for grant of passport.

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But if such officers are required to travel abroad during emergencies such as those arising out of medical conditions, the authorities can take an appropriate call.

The vigilance clearance can be withheld if the officer is involved in a trap or raid case on charges of corruption and investigation is pending; an FIR has been filed or a case registered by any government entity against the officer, after a preliminary fact-finding inquiry, and if the officer is under suspension, the guidelines said.

The vigilance clearance will also be denied in case a charge sheet has been filed in a court by the investigating agency in a criminal case and the case is pending; a sanction for investigation or prosecution has been granted by the competent authority in a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act or any other criminal matter, and a charge sheet has been issued against the officer in a disciplinary proceeding and the proceeding is pending, it said.

"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," the ministry said in the set of guidelines issued yesterday.

However, the information regarding FIR may be provided to the passport office, it said, adding that the final decision on the matter will be taken by the concerned passport issuing authority.

"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 may require to visit abroad for medical reasons.

"Therefore... 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," the ministry said in an order issued to secretaries of all central government departments.

—With inputs from Agencies

Graft And Travel

  • Vigilance clearance will be denied to babus if: 
  • A charge sheet has been filed in a court and the case is pending 
  • Sanction for a probe or prosecution has been granted by authorities 
  • A charge sheet has been issued in a disciplinary proceeding