New CVC: Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar named, sources say

New Delhi, Jul 2: After the meeting between Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, opposition leader, Sushma Swaraj and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday, Jul 2, government sources said that defence secretary Pradeep Kumar has been named as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

Kumar's name was there in the nominees list for the high-profile post. Others, whose names were expected to come out as the next CVC after PJ Thomas were- Home Secretary G K Pillai, former Chemicals and Fertilizers Secretary Bijoy Chatterjee, former Secretary, Legislative Affairs V K Bhasin, former Urban Development Secretary M Ramachandran and present Personnel Secretary Alka Sirohi.

After her meeting with the PM and home minister, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj stated that the three-member panel has already finalised the person who will be the next CVC without any objection. The government will announce the name soon, informed Swaraj. However, Pradeep's name has not yet been declared as the new CVC officially.

The pressure on the government to name the new CVC had intensified after President Pratibha Patil cancelled former CVC PJ Thomas' appointment as Central Vigilance Commissioner in Mar 2011.

The Supreme Court had earlier slammed the CVC appointment (Thomas' appointment) and had ruled that the government had made major lapses in his (Thomas') selection and overlooked his involvement in the Palmolein scam.

OneIndia News