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About the Organization

       Commission comprises a single member, designated as the Andhra Pradesh Vigilance Commissioner,  appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Government.  The Vigilance Commissioner cannot be removed or suspended from the office except in the manner provided for removal or suspension of the Chairman or a Member of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission. 
Staffing Pattern of Commission. 

Expansion of the Commission

        Commission undertook a thorough examination of its composition and functions  in the light of experience gained in the last 10 years since its revival, with a view to equipping it with resources and  manpower to enable it to discharge preventive, punitive and educative functions  with legal and technical expertise.  With a view to make punitive vigilance more effective, following the practice obtaining in the Central Vigilance Commission, and to facilitate speedier and more effective inquiries, Commission proposed to the State Government to bring the Commissionerate of Inquiries as part of the Commission.

        In view of the enormous increase in the work load relating to preventive vigilance, Commission proposed the expansion of the present set up by addition of three more sections with an Asst. Secretary which the Government approved.  The Government also approved creation of a Legal Wing with a Chief Legal Adviser to advise  Commission on all legal aspects.   

Chief Legal Adviser  & Chief Technical Examiner
The Central Vigilance Commission has  a Chief Technical  Examiner’s wing in the Commission to deal with all works expenditure. Public works forms a substantial part of the development expenditure of Government.  Hence Commission proposed an effective Chief Technical Examiner’s organization under it, to assist in the investigation and examination of vigilance cases involving  works and supplies, to undertake concurrent technical audit of works with a view to securing economy in expenditure and better technical and financial control and to do system studies to suggest measures to prevent corruption and eliminate leakages in public expenditure.  The jurisdiction of the CTE organization will be co-extensive with that of  Commission with power to inspect any work in the State and to call for information and data to enable effective discharge of its functions.  It may also assist  the Director General, ACB and the Director General, Vigilance & Enforcement wherever necessary in cases investigated or enquired into by them.  It may also be entrusted with enquiry into the complaints relating to corruption in public works. 

Preventive Vigilance

              A new Preventive Vigilance Wing has also been approved in the Commission to examine practices and procedure in Government Departments and public bodies with a view to identifying areas of corruption and suggest measures for prevention of corruption, in close association with the departments, public enterprises and other autonomous bodies.  Study of systems and procedures  covering all areas of public function including law enforcement, licensing, procurement, contract administration, works programme apart from other development and welfare schemes could be undertaken in this.  This will  help evolve new public policies, procedures and legislation.  To make a beginning in this area skeletal staff has been sanctioned  under a Senior Analyst. Commission will be happy to receive suggestions in this regard.

Community Relations Wing
   Commission is actually aware of the need  to enlist public support in the Government’s drive to prevent corruption in administration.  Hence a new Community Relations Wing to educate the public and to enlist public support in combating corruption is being constituted.  This wing will map out strategies for promoting public awareness of anti corruption work; disseminate anti corruption messages through mass media and the educational institutions, and try to carry out preventive education through face-to-face contact with the public. In order to disseminate the anti corruption messages, it may produce television and radio commercials as well as print advertisements and serials based on real corruption cases.  Contemplating the use of mass media, face-to-face contact programme with the community will be organized with the help of recognized N.G.Os in he field.  Extensive survey through professional bodies to identify the nature and extent of corruption in different departments will also be attempted in course of time.  Preparation of moral education material to instill positive values among students at all levels; conduct of talks and seminars, organization of exhibitions and shows and publishing of news letters will be attempted in course of time through this wing.

Chief Vigilance Officers and Vigilance Officers

               There are Chief Vigilance Officers for each Secretariat Department and Vigilance Officers  in the  offices of the Heads of Departments, Government Undertakings and institution subject to Commission’s jurisdiction.  The Chief Vigilance Officers are of the rank not below  a Deputy Secretary to Govt. The Vigilance Officers are chosen among the senior most officers of the Department.  The Chief Vigilance Officer and the Vigilance Officer, besides being the link between the Commission and the Departments, shall be the special assistants to the Secretary to Government or the Head of the Department, the head of the Government Undertaking / Institution, as the case may be. The Government recently ordered vide Memo dated 5.11.2003 to start with, that the Secretariat Departments of TR&B, Revenue, PR&RD, Home, MA&UD, I&CAD  and HM&FW shall have full time CVOs who should be exclusively in charge of vigilance matters. Major Public Enterprises like A.P.TRANSCO, APSRTC have full-fledged vigilance wings. 

         Collectors acts as District Vigilance Officers who is authorized to review & enquire into complaints against any officer in the district.

Procedure

               Commission issued procedural instructions, with the concurrence of the Government vide its letter No. 66/VC.A2/93-3, dated 10-10-1994 setting forth the authorities to which complaints may be made, the procedure relating to enquiry into complaints, information or cases received or taken note of by the Commission, either by the departmental authorities or the ACB, requiring reference of cases to the Commission for   first stage advice on enquiry reports regarding disciplinary action or investigation reports relating to criminal prosecution as the case may be, and second stage advice relating to  punishments, specifying  the role of Chief Vigilance Officers and Vigilance Officers and the Collectors in implementing the Scheme of the  Commission  and such other matters in detail. The Government have  issued clear guidelines in Circular Memo No.235/Spl.B/2001-1, dated: 26.7.2001, in regard to the  nature of cases to be referred to the Commission for advice.  In the said circular instructions the disciplinary cases were categorised as vigilance cases and non-vigilance Cases. All cases of misconduct on the part of public servants involving lack of integrity like  illegal gratification, bribery, causing loss to Government,  unlawful gain to self or others, and such other acts of corruption and criminal misconduct like misappropriation, cheating, fraud etc., are categorized as vigilance cases which are required to be referred to the Commission for advice. Other cases of misconduct of an  administrative nature in which disciplinary action is proposed which have no vigilance angle, are not required to be referred to the Commission for its advice.