Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
1. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental
corruption.
2. It was set up by the Government
of India in February, 1964 on the recommendations
of K. Santhanam Committee.
3. Nittoor Srinivasa Rau was
selected as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.
Organization:
4.
The Commission shall consist of:
a.
A Central Vigilance Commissioner - Chairperson;
b.
Not more than two Vigilance Commissioners - Members
5. The current Central Vigilance Commissioner is
Mr. K.V. Chowdary, and among the two Vigilance Commissioners, one is Mr. Rajiv and the other is Shri T.M. Bhasin
Appointment
and Removal:
6.
The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance
Commissioners are appointed by the President
after obtaining the recommendation of a Committee consisting of The Prime
Minister of India (Chairperson), The Minister of Home Affairs and The Leader of
the opposition party in parliament.
7. The Central Vigilance Commissioner or any
Vigilance Commissioner can be removed from his office only by order of the
President on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity after any reference
made by Supreme Court.
Powers
and Functions
8. To exercise superintendence over the functioning of the Delhi
Special Police Establishment (DSPE) with respect to investigation under the
Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; or offence under CRPC for certain categories of public servants and to give
directions to the DSPE for purpose of discharging this responsibility;
9. To review the progress of investigations conducted by the DSPE
into offences alleged to have been committed under the PC Act;
10. To undertake an inquiry or cause an inquiry or investigation to be
made into any transaction in which a public servant working in any
organisation, to which the executive control of the Government of India
extends, is suspected or alleged to have acted for an improper purpose or in a
corrupt manner;
11. To tender independent and impartial advice to the disciplinary and
other authorities in disciplinary cases, involving vigilance angle at different
stages i.e. investigation, inquiry, appeal, review etc.;
12. To exercise a general check and supervision over vigilance and
anti-corruption work in Ministries or Departments of the Govt. of India and
other organizations to which the executive power of the Union extends; and
13. To chair the Committee for selection of Director (CBI), Director
(Enforcement Directorate) and officers of the level of SP and above in DSPE.
14. To undertake or cause an inquiry into complaints received under
the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informer and recommend
appropriate action.
Limitations
- CVC is only an advisory body.
Central Government Departments are free to either accept or reject CVC's
advice in corruption cases.
- CVC does not have adequate
resources compared with number of complaints that it receives. It is a
very small set up with sanctioned staff strength of 299. Whereas, it is
supposed to check corruption in more than 1500 central government
departments and ministries
- CVC cannot direct CBI to initiate inquiries
against any officer of the level of Joint Secretary and above on its own.
Such permission has to be obtained from the concerned department.
- CVC does not have powers to
register criminal case. It deals only with vigilance or disciplinary
cases.
