The Supreme Court Wednesday permitted the central government to go ahead with the selection and appointment of the chief vigilance commissioner and vigilance commissioner - two positions awaiting to be filled up for quite some time.
A bench of Chief Justice H.L.Dattu, Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Amitava Roy permitted the government to go ahead with the appointments as Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that they have received 135 applications after the posts were advertised.
Out of these, a panel of three secretaries - the cabinet secretary, personnel and training secretary and the finance secretary, have shortlisted 10 names for the consideration by a high-powered committee comprising the prime minister, home minister and the eader of the opposition.
As counsel Prashant Bhushan appearing for NGO, the Centre for Integrity, Governance and Training in Vigilance Administration, questioned the criteria on the basis of which 10 names were shortlisted, the court said that the names of all the 135 candidates with their profiles would be placed before the selection committee.
The NGO had moved the court seeking the broadening the zone of consideration for the appointment of CVC and the VC and making entire process transparent.
The central government had to come to the court as the apex court December 17, 2014, had asked for central government to take its permission before going ahead with these appointments.
The positionsbecame vacant following the retirement of CVC Pradeep Kumar on September 28, 2014, while commissioner J.M. Garg had retired on September 7, 2014.