IB advises government to prevent officers from taking files out of Home Ministry

New Delhi, June 17: The Home Ministry houses in the North Block houses the most sensitive files. The Intelligence Bureau in a report to the Home Ministry has said that new rules will have to be set up to prevent officers from taking files home.

Two cases- Ishrat Jahan and Anand Joshi have become talking points today.

While in the Ishrat case, the Home Ministry said that the files had gone missing, in the Joshi incident, it was alleged that he had used the files to extort money from some NGOs. The problem in both these cases is that the files had been taken out of the ministry.

The IB report states that even senior officials should be barred from taking files outside the home ministry.

Don't let officers take files out:
The IB in a detailed report stated that even the senior officials should be prevented from taking files outside. Last year a case of espionage had been busted in the Oil Ministry. Moreover this year the talking points have been the Joshi and Ishrat case.

The IB says that officers in the rank of Joint Secretary and above too should not be permitted to take files outside the ministry. Once they take it out there is every chance of them photo copying it and sharing it.

Within the ministry too the IB has said that the surveillance must be increased to prevent sensitive information from getting leaked.

Following this report and a couple of embarrassing incidents, the government has decided that the IB report will be implemented.

While surveillance within the ministries has been increased, a thorough check of officials leaving the premises is also being conducted.

OneIndia News