The Lokpal has recently advertised six posts of Consultants at various levels, including one for appointment of an eligible candidate as a ‘Personal Assistant’.
The other five posts are Consultant-Deputy Director/Superintendent of Police (Lokpal) and two each of Consultant-Investigation Officer and Consultant-Assistant Investigation Officer, according to the vacancy circular issued by Lokpal.
Giving details about the eligibility for the post of Consultant-Deputy Director/SP (Lokpal), the circular says that officers who have retired from the Central Armed Police Forces are eligible to apply.
Retired officers of Group A organised services who served in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), among others, are also eligible to apply.
Candidates for the post must have at least five years of experience in conducting investigations or inquiries in general, economic, banking or cyber matters. The vacancy circular assumes significance as the Lokpal has recently constituted an investigation wing to conduct a preliminary inquiry into corruption-related offences committed by public servants. The wing was formed more than a decade after a law regulating the Lokpal was passed. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (2013 Act) came into force on January 1, 2014, when it received the President’s assent. However, it became operational only on March 27, 2019, after the appointment of its chairman and members.
In order to discharge its statutory functions, Section 11 of the Act mandates the Lokpal to constitute an Investigation Wing to conduct a preliminary inquiry into any offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, alleged to have been committed by the specified officers and public servants.
The Lokpal plenary, in its meeting held on August 30, 2024, decided to constitute the investigation wing, as per an official order.
The Anti-Corruption Ombudsman has decided that the Lokpal chairman will have a Director of Investigation. The Director will be assisted by three Superintendents of Police – the SP (General), the SP (Economics and Banking) and the SP (Cyber). Each SP will also be assisted by Investigation Officers and other officials.
In its latest circular, the Lokpal said that retired officers with at least three years of experience in conducting investigations or enquiries in general or economic, banking or cyber matters are eligible to apply for the two posts of consultant-investigation/investigation officer.
Former employees with a minimum of two years’ experience in investigating criminal cases, surveillance work, information technology cases, cyber fraud cases or anti-corruption cases are eligible to apply for the two posts of consultant-assistant investigation officer, he said, mentioning other details of the eligibility criteria.
The monthly remuneration to be paid will be set according to the formula of “last basic salary – (minus) – basic pension”, excluding the dearness allowance, according to the circular of September 18.
Meanwhile, in an order dated September 17, the Lokpal decided to change the nomenclature of certain categories of officers and staff.
According to the order, SP has been re-designated as Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lokpal).
The name “Investigation Officer” has been changed to “Investigation/Investigation Officer” (IO) and the name “Assistant Investigation Officer” (Assistant IO)” has been changed to “Assistant Investigation/Investigation Officer (Assistant IO).
“The designations/nomenclatures of the above officers and staff of the Investigation Wing are hereby renamed with immediate effect,” the order said.
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