Jharkhand officials now need to inform nodal heads before giving papers to external probe agencies

The Jharkhand Cabinet approved guidelines to deal with notices to State officials by external probe agencies, making it mandatory for them to inform the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance Department through departmental heads about the communications, an official said.

The Jharkhand Cabinet on January 9 approved guidelines to deal with notices to State officials by external probe agencies, making it mandatory for them to inform the Cabinet Secretariat and Vigilance Department through departmental heads about the communications, an official said.

The decision came when Chief Minister Hemant Soren and a number of State Government officials are facing summons by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

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The Cabinet's decision to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) was taken at a meeting chaired by Mr. Soren in view of "handing over of documents to external probe agencies without bringing this to the knowledge of State officials concerned".

Briefing the media after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Vandana Dadel said, "The Cabinet Secretariat and vigilance department have been made nodal departments to deal with such issues and legal actions in the matter."

She said that according to the new SOP, if any official receives any notice or summons from any external probe agency, he or she will immediately inform the department head concerned.

"The nodal department will obtain legal advice accordingly. In light of the advice from the department, the official will provide necessary cooperation to the probe agency," Ms. Dadel said.