Delhi LG Sandhu Orders Vigilance Overhaul, Transfer of Long-Serving Officials
Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered a comprehensive review of the vigilance system within the Delhi government and directed that officials who have remained in the same position for a long period be transferred. Government officials aware of the matter shared details of the directives on Sunday, following a key review meeting between the Lieutenant Governor and the principal secretary (vigilance), Delhi.
During the meeting, Sandhu reviewed the various systems and practices that have been followed by the vigilance administration for over a decade. In response to the findings, he called on the Delhi government to reframe existing rules governing long postings and to formulate a structured policy aimed at ensuring the systematic rotation of officials across departments.
A major focus of the directive involves Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs). Sandhu directed the immediate appointment of CVOs across all sensitive departments within the government. In addition, the official list of sensitive departments is set to be thoroughly reviewed and reframed.
During the review process with the principal secretary (vigilance), it emerged that certain government departments handling high financial allocations were not included in the existing list of sensitive departments. Conversely, some departments that were comparatively less sensitive had been included in the list. The reframing process will address these discrepancies to ensure appropriate oversight.
The Lieutenant Governor also directed the vigilance department to formulate standard guidelines specifically tailored for CVOs. These guidelines will define their role in monitoring compliance with Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines, particularly regarding government contracts and tendering processes.
To ensure sustained monitoring, the vigilance department has also been asked to hold regular review meetings with departmental CVOs to track vigilance-related work. According to officials, these combined directions aim to strengthen vigilance mechanisms, improve oversight of procurement and tender processes, and effectively reduce the scope for prolonged postings in sensitive administrative positions.
