SC asked Union Government to bring transparency in appointment of CVC, VCs

Supreme Court on 18 September 2014 asked Union Government to bring transparency in appointment of Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), Vigilance Commissioner (VCs).

The SC bench comprising of Chief Justice R M Lodha, Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice R F Nariman, said that Union Government should examine ways to broaden its zone of consideration beyond civil servants. It also mentioned to make the process transparent.

The Bench also asked about the criteria under which names are forwarded and asked the Union to file its response by 9 October 2014. The case was posted for final hearing on 14 October 2014.

Following this, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said that selection process would take at least one month time to complete and assured the court that no final decision would be taken on appointment during the pendency of the case in the Apex Court.

Background

The SC bench gave the order on a PIL filed by an NGO, Centre for Integrity, Governance and Training in Vigilance Administration. The PIL referred to the 21 July 2014 letter issued by the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), to Secretaries in Government to suggest names for empanelment for the post of CVC and VC, allegedly aimed at keeping away the common people.

The PIL sought to have similar procedure for making appointment of CVC and VCs as is being done in the case of filling up one post of Chairperson and eight posts of Members in the Lokpal under the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.