New Delhi: People from all walks of life
can now apply to become the Central Vigilance Commissioner
provided they get a recommendation from a secretary-level
officer of the government.
The new guidelines, approved by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh to appoint the CVC, mandated all secretaries of
the Central government to nominate any person, including
people from any field other than civil servant, to be become
head of the anti-corruption watchdog.
The government has set the ball rolling for choosing
CVC by asking all secretaries of the government to recommend
names and send them to the Secretary, Department of Personnel
by April 15.
While quashing the appointment of PJ Thomas as CVC,
the Supreme Court said that in future appointments to CVC`s
post should not be restricted to civil servants alone and that
people of impeccable integrity from other fields should be
considered.
The guidelines said that the CVC will have a four year
term or retire at the age of 65, whichever is earlier. But,
the person should have a tenure of three years. So, anyone, below
62 years of age can apply for the post.
Any person who had retired as secretary of the
government of India and anyone who had retired as chairman or
chairman-cum-managing director or managing director of any
Schedule I PSU are eligible of the post, according to the new
guideline prepared following the Supreme Court directive.
Apart from retired civil servant, anyone having
expertise in finance (insurance and banking), law, vigilance
investigation is also eligible for the post.
However, the candidates must have impeccable integrity
throughout their professional career.
Issuing the guidelines for future appointment to the
CVC`s post, the Supreme Court said the empanelment must be
done by an officer of the rank of Secretary and all the
material must be placed before the High Powered Committee
headed by Prime Minister Singh.
Sources said a new CVC is expected to take charge
within a month after completion of all formalities and
clearance by the High-Powered Committee comprising the prime
minister, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of the
Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
The Supreme Court had struck down the appointment of
Thomas holding that the recommendation by the high-powered
committee headed by the prime minister is "nonexistent" (does not
exist) in law.
The government had appointed Thomas as CVC despite
dissension by Swaraj who was one of the three members in the
high-powered committee.
PTI
