The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)
- The Indian government introduced the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in the year 1964.
- The commission was set up on the recommendation of K. Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption.
- It is an agency constituted to curb corruption in offices of the Indian government.
- CVC is called the apex vigilance institution.
- It is free of control from any executive authority.
- Its role is to monitor all vigilance activity under the Central Government and advising various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
CVC has three members:
- Central Vigilance Commissioner
- Two Vigilance Commissioner (Maximum number of commissioners is 2)
The following are the works of CVC members:
- They inquire or investigate whenever a public servant (Central Government employee) commits an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
- They inquire or investigate against following officials who commit an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988:
- Members of all-India services serving in the Union and Group ‘A’ officers of the Central government
- The specified level of officers of the authorities of the Central government
- They superintend the functioning of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) in cases related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- They direct Delhi Special Police Establishment in investigative cases related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- They review the progress of investigations conducted by the Delhi Special Police Establishment in cases related Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- They review the progress of those applications that are pending with competent authorities for sanction under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988
- Central Government and its authorities are advised on matters as they refer to CVC members
- They also superintend vigilance departments of government ministries
- They undertake or cause an inquiry into complaints received under Whistleblower Resolution and recommend appropriate action.
- Whenever the central government makes rules and regulations governing the vigilance and disciplinary matters relating to members of Central Services and All-India Services, CVC is consulted.
- CVC members are part of the selection committee which is responsible to recommend the appointment of the Director of Enforcement (ED.)
- CVC is a part of the selection committee that recommends officers for appointments to the posts above the level of Deputy Director of Enforcement.
- The Commission acts as an authority to receive information that is related to suspicious transactions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002
- It recommends to Central Government for the appointment of Director of Prosecution in Central Bureau of Investigation
- CVC members are part of a selection committee that is responsible to recommend the appointment of officers to the posts of the level of SP and above in the CBI except for the Director of CBI
- Lokpal refers complaints to CVC who initiate a preliminary inquiry in respect of officers and officials of Groups A, B, C & D