Soon, museum for gifts received by bureaucrats

New Delhi: The Centre plans to open an “uphaar sangrahalaya” where all the government functionaries will be bound to deposit the gifts they receive while discharging their duties. The guidelines to this effect have been framed and the functionaries are expected to be notified soon.

As of now, the Prime Minister, his council of ministers, and senior officers are bound to deposit the gifts they receive in foreign countries in the government’s treasure trove—Toshkhana.

Notably, IAS and IPS officers have to take prior permission from the government before accepting gifts valuing more than Rs 5,000.

The bureaucrats are even required to inform the government if they accept gifts of over Rs 25,000 from their relatives or friends.

According to a proposal prepared by the Union finance ministry, a strong room by the name of Uphaar Sangrahalaya would be established in the office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) where government functionaries would be bound to deposit the gifts they receive from “domestic/unknown” sources.

These rules will apply to every person appointed to civil service or posts (including a civilian in Defence Service) in connection with the affairs of the Union government.

The proposal states that officers should not accept any gift in case where sanction of the government is refused under the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules.

In case the gifts have been accepted by the government functionary and sanction for the same is refused later on, the same have to be deposited in the treasure wallet.