Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
- September 4, 2021
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
Subject – Polity
Context – Over 200 complaints before CVOs, 105 for more than three years: CVC
Concept –
- The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is the main agency for preventing corruption in the Central government.
- It was established in 1964 by an executive resolution of the Central government. Its establishment was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962–64).
- Thus, originally the CVC was neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body. Later, in 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC.
- The CVC is conceived to be the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
Composition
- The CVC is a multi-member body consisting of a Central Vigilance Commissioner (chairperson) and not more than two vigilance commissioners.
- They are appointed by the president by warrant under his hand and seal on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the prime minister as its head, the Union minister of home affairs and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
- They hold office for a term of four years or until they attain the age of sixty five years, whichever is earlier.
- After their tenure, they are not eligible for further employment under the Central or a state government.
- The president can remove the Central Vigilance Commissioner or any vigilance commissioner from the office under the following circumstances:
- (a) If he is adjudged an insolvent; or
- (b) If he has been convicted of an offence which (in the opinion of the Central government) involves a moral turpitude; or
- (c) If he engages, during his term of office, in any paid employment outside the duties of his office; or
- (d) If he is (in the opinion of the president), unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or
- (e) If he has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his official functions.
Organization
- The CVC has its own Secretariat, Chief Technical Examiners’ Wing (CTE) and a wing of Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries (CDIs).
- Secretariat: The Secretariat consists of a Secretary, Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries and office staff.
- Chief Technical Examiners’ Wing: The Chief Technical Examiners’ Organization constitutes the technical wing of the CVC. It consists of Chief Engineers (designated as Chief Technical Examiners) and supporting engineering staff.
- Commissioners for Departmental Inquiries: The CDIs function as Inquiry Officers to conduct oral inquiries in departmental proceedings initiated against public servants.
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the CVC extends to the following:
- Members of All India Services serving in connection with the affairs ofthe Union and Group A officers of the Central Government.
- Officers of the rank of Scale V and above in the Public Sector Banks.
- Officers in Grade D and above in Reserve Bank of India, NABARD andSIDBI.
- Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-8and above in Schedule ‘A’ and ‘B’ Public Sector Undertakings.
- Chief Executives and Executives on the Board and other officers of E-7and above in Schedule ‘C’ and ‘D’ Public Sector Undertakings.
- Managers and above in General Insurance Companies.
- Senior Divisional Managers and above in Life Insurance Corporation.
- Officers drawing salary of `8700/- per month (pre-revised) and above on Central Government D.A. pattern, as may be revised from time to time, in societies and local authorities owned or controlled by the Central Government.
Who are the Chief Vigilance Officers?
The Chief Vigilance Officers are extended hands of the CVC. The Chief Vigilance Officers are considerably higher level officers who are appointed in each and every Department/Organization to assist the Head of the Department/Organization in all vigilance matters.
What are the selection and appointment procedures for the Chief Vigilance Officers?
Selection and Appointment
The Chief Vigilance Officers constitute an important link between the organizations concerned and the Central Vigilance Commission (as also the CBI). The following procedures have been laid down/evolved in the matter of appointment of CVOs:
- Prior approval of the Commission for appointment of an officer as CVO;
- As far as possible, the Chief Vigilance Officers should be from outside the Organization in which he is to be appointed. The initial tenure of full-time CVO in PSUs is for three years extendable by two years in the same organization with the approval of the Commission or up to a further period of three years on transfer to another PSU on completion of initial tenure of three years in the previous PSU.
- In cases where the scale of operation of a particular organization does not justify creation of a full-time post, an officer within the organization sufficiently senior in rank to be able to report directly to the Chief Executive or vigilance matters may be considered for such appointments.
- The officer to be given additional charge of the post of CVO should not be one whose normal duties involve dealing with matters sensitive from vigilance point of view (like recruitment, purchase, etc.).
- Once an officer has worked as CVO in an organization, he should not go back as CVO to the same organization again.
- An officer who is appointed from outside as CVO in Central Public Undertaking shall not be permanently absorbed in the same organization on expiry or in continuation of his tenure as CVO in that organization.