New CVC takes charge

NEW DELHI, SEPT 3: Nagarajan Vittal, a retired senior bureaucrat, was sworn in as Chief Vigilance Commissioner CVC by President K R Nar...

NEW DELHI, SEPT 3: Nagarajan Vittal, a retired senior bureaucrat, was sworn in as Chief Vigilance Commissioner CVC by President K R Narayanan here today.

He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by the President at a simple function at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Vice-President Krishan Kant, Home Minister L K Advani and senior officials.

8220;My priority will be to see to how the objective of the CVC Ordinance can be achieved and how the CVC becomes an antibiotic against corruption in the body politic8221;, Vittal, who was earlier chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board, told reporters.

Vittal, an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1960 batch, said he was in agreement with the ordinance objective, a significant development in tackling corruption through the institutional system.

Asked how soon the CVC would be able to appoint directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI and Enforcement Directorate, he said, 8220;We will meet as quickly as possible to selectthe suitable persons8221;, after consulting the concerned officials.

Vittal said he would adopt techniques like sending questionnaires to senior officials for seeking their views on ways to tackle corruption.

The new CVC said the scarcity of services and goods, lack of transparency and delay in procedures were some factors that bred corruption.

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Asked about the appointment of other vigilance commissioners, Vittal said the selection procedure would be the same as for the CVC but added he was not sure when it would be done.

The Government appointed Vittal as CVC on September 1, nearly a week after conferring statutory status to the Central Vigilance Commission.

Under the new statute, the multi-member commission will comprise three members, besides the CVC.