If more qualifications were needed, a new one has been added to the ones you need to be a Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). Currently one of the jobs most prized by retiring Indian bureaucrats, a CVC means you stay on delhi till you’re 65 and can be as intrusive in the affairs of the influential and the powerful as you want. But after the controversy that former CVC PJ Thomas landed the post into, you need one more qualification – you need to be (legally speaking) honest.
But the new CVC has already been sworn in. Pradeep Kumar, IAS officer from the Haryana cadre whose last post was Defence Secretary might not be a brilliant officer – but his integrity is unquestionable.
Kumar’s colleagues say this is partly because of his reputation in the state. He has never had a vigilance enquiry against him. He was posted as Town and Country Planner, Haryana, the undoing of many a bureaucrat. But during Kumar’s tenure there was no controversy. Similarly, he was in the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under two ministers whose reputation preceded them – TR Balu, followed by Kamal Nath. But here too, nothing that Pradeep Kumar did invited any attention.
Kumar, who will turn 62 in September, has also worked as a Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Coal and Secretary (Disinvestment) in the Ministry of Finance. He has also served on the boards of a number of companies, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, Maruti Udyog Ltd, Andrew Yule Ltd, Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd, Coal India Ltd and Neyvelli Lignite Corporation .