CVC too should get a post-retirement job, Vittal tells Govt

When contacted, Vittal confirmed that he had sent a letter to the government protesting against several of the provisions of the Bill.

Vittal was particularly peeved over the provision that debars CVC or Vigilance Commissioners from holding any office either in the Central government, State government or Union Territory after retirement.

“If retired Supreme Court judges, members of all other commissions and bodies are not debarred from holding office after retirement, why should the CVC be given such a treatment?” said Vittal.

When it was pointed out that members of the Union Public Services Commissionare also debarred so, Vittal said that the provision was absurd. He added that it was “unfair and the CVC has been unfairly singled out.”

Vittal has also protested against excluding politicians from his watch list. The CVC, according to the Bill, would supervise “public servants” who are government employees. This would finally exclude MPs from CVC’s ambit.

Vittal has also been deprived of his powers to issue “general policy directions including on vigilance and disciplinary matters” to the government, various ministries and departments.

The JPC noted that the CVC had already issued a number of instructions which fall within the executive authority of the government. (The CVC had said that there should not be negotiations in the post-tender stage and the lowest tender rate should be final. Even subordinates have been told to complaint against their superiors on conditions of confidentiality).

It was in this background that the JPC recommended that the CVC should not issue general policy guidelines.

The body blow to the CVC came when the JPC recommended that officers at the decision-making level — joint secretary and above in the government and board-level officers in banks and PSUs — be given protection. The government’s permission should be sought before any inquiry or prosecution is launched.