SC permits appointment of CVC, vigilance commissioner

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday lifted the five-month-old stay on appointment of the central vigilance commissioner (CVC) and vigilance commissioner.

Both posts had been lying vacant for quite some time.

The Centre said in response to its advertisement, it had received 135 applications for the CVC post and that the list of names was now ready to be placed before the committee comprising Prime Minister, the home minister and leader of opposition.

The apex court allowed the government to appoint CVC and VCs in accordance with CVC Act but directed the government to submit the entire record of appointment process to the court in July.

The apex court on December 17, 2014, had asked for central government to take its permission before going ahead with these appointments, as well as furnish the details of the appointment procedure.

Its order had come while hearing a plea by NGO, Centre for Integrity, Governance and Training in Vigilance Administration, which had questioned the lack of transparency in the CVC appointment process.

The NGO had contended that the procedure being followed by the government for empanelment was restricted and non-transparent.

The positions became vacant following the retirement of incumbent CVC Pradeep Kumar on September 28, 2014 and the retirement of commissioner J M Garg on September 7 2014.