500 IPS officers yet to file asset details

New Delhi: As many as 500 Indian Police Service officers, including senior officials of the rank of Director General and Inspector General, have not filed their annual property details for the year 2016. This could hamper their future promotions as well as cancelling their vigilance clearance.

As per the provisions of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, it is mandatory for all IPS officers to submit details of their immovable property by January 31 but out of a total of 3,905 IPS officers,  only 3,390 officers have submitted their details till March 31, 2017. The home ministry, which is the cadre controlling agency for IPS officers, can now initiate disciplinary action against such officers which could be in the form of denying future promotions and vigilance clearance. These include senior officers of the rank of DGPs, Additional DGPs and IGPs.

The home ministry has already asked the Home Department of all States and Union Territory administrations to seek explanation from officers who have failed to submit their immovable property details.

All Central government employees except those working as peons or multi-tasking staff need to file property returns as per provisions of the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Return of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) Amendment Rules, 2014. These rules are also notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act.

Earlier, the Centre had also issued a form for filing these returns which also sought some other details like cash in hand, bank deposits, investment in bonds, debentures, shares and units in companies or mutual funds, insurance policies, provident fund, personal loans and advance given to any person or entity, among others.

All Central Government employees are also required to provide details of motor vehicles, aircraft, yachts or ships, gold and silver jewellery and bullion possessed by them, their spouses and dependent children.