There has been an increase in number of cases of corruption being referred by the Supreme Court, High Courts and state governments to the CBI for probe, the government said today.
A total of 115 corruption cases have been registered by the central probe agency in the past two years. Of these, 65 were filed last year as against 50 in 2014, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
No case of corruption has been referred to the CBI by apex court, High Courts and state governments so far this year, he said.
In this regard, it is pertinent to mention that a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice had in its recent report criticised judicial activism of Supreme and higher courts by overseeing investigation and passing interim directions to CBI saying it may appear to be a "colourable exercise" of power by them.
Singh said Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had received 5,492 and 4,355 alleged corruption cases during 2014 and 2015, respectively, for advice.
Of the total cases referred to the CVC last year, major penalty was imposed in 328 cases and administrative action was recommended in 72 others. In a total of 652 cases the Commission did not recommend any action and accused were exonerated.
In reply to another question, the Minister said that Railways Ministry is one of the organisations which has maximum number of cases of prosecution sanctioned and penalties imposed during 2013 and 2014.
