Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Chief Secy VK Janjua and Vigilance Department Chief Varinder Kumar almost 2 months back in a meeting discussed the major obstacle that is coming in the way of working of VB. During this meeting, VB Chief Varinder Kumar stated that whenever an accused is arrested by the Vigilance Bureau to initiate a further investigation as well as prosecution, permission from certain departments is required. The problem that comes out is these departments do not provide the sanction to VB to carry out investigation and prosecution. Vigilance Bureau revealed all the sanctions the bureau has asked for and the ones that have till now not got sanctioned. The chief further added that the non-availability of permission is a big obstacle in their work to fight corruption.
Soon after this, Chief Secy called up a meeting with all department heads and ordered them to look into all the cases that require sanction. He further added that the departments should respond to all the prosecution sanctions at the earliest. Still, there was no improvement in the problem.
Punjab Chief Secretary on behalf of CM Mann again called a meeting with Principal Secretaries of all departments and has now given them an ultimatum. During the meeting stated that all department heads should respond to prosecution sanctions within 72 hours. He further said if the government does not want to give sanctions, then must have a strong reason for the same.
Sources have further revealed that most numbers of the sanctions are pending from the Revenue department, Excise and Taxation department, PWD department and Forest Department.