Discretion on nominations for CVC post rests with Bureaucrats

NEW DELHI: Even as the government has stuck to the Supreme Court's directive opening up the CVC's post to non-civil servants, the new guidelines on CVC's appointment leave it to the secretaries of various ministries and PSU heads to recommend the names of the private persons who may be considered for the post.

The department of personnel and training ( DoPT) had, in its letter to secretaries of various government ministries and departments as well as PSU chiefs sent a couple of days ago, asked them to nominate persons who are either secretary-level civil servants or private individuals of eminence with expertise in finance, including banking and insurance, law, vigilance or investigation.

The non-civil servants should have made outstanding achievements in his/her field of expertise. Whether a civil servant or a private person, the guidelines clearly stated that the person to be nominated should be "of outstanding merit and impeccable integrity."

It is not clear whether the guidelines allow private individuals to directly approach the DoPT with their own nominations. But the fact that the DoPT has only sought nominations from secretaries and chairmen, managing directors and CEOs of Schedule A PSUs latest by April 25, and not publicly invited suggestions, indicates that the discretion on nominations will rest with the bureaucracy.

As per the guidelines forwarded by DoPT to various ministries/departments and PSUs, the CVC would have to demit office at 65 years of age or on completion of a tenure of four years, whichever is earlier. However, the CVC would have a minimum tenure of three years, indicating that the age of the aspirants at the time of appointment should not be more than 62 years.