Question

Who among the following was appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India in April 2020?
1. Sharad Kumar
2. Suresh N Patel
3. Sanjay Kothari
4. Rajnish Kumar

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Sanjay Kothari

The correct answer is Sanjay Kothari.

• Sanjay Kothari was appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner in April 2020.
  • He left the office in June 2021.
  • Suresh N. Patel is the incumbent (as of September 2021) Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.

• Central Vigilance Commission is the apex vigilance institution, free of control from any executive authority, monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government.
  • It also advises various authorities in Central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
    • Vigilance means to ensure clean and prompt administrative action towards achieving efficiency and effectiveness of the employees in particular and the organization in general.
  • The CVC was set up by the Government in February 1964 on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by Shri K. Santhanam.
  • In 2003, the Parliament enacted CVC Act conferring statutory status on the CVC.
  • After the enactment of the CVC Act, 2003, the Commission became a multi-member body.
    • The Central Vigilance Commissioner and not more than two Vigilance Commissioners are appointed by the President.
    • The President appoints them on the recommendations of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of Home Affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People (Member).
    • The term of office of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners is four years from the date on which they enter their office or till they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
  • The CVC is not controlled by any Ministry/Department.
  • It is an independent body that is only responsible to the Parliament.
  • Functions:
    • The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and recommends appropriate action.
    • It is not an investigating agency.
    • The CVC either gets the investigation done through the CBI or chief vigilance officers (CVO) in government offices.
    • It is empowered to inquire into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by certain categories of public servants.
    • Its annual report gives the details of the work done by the commission and points to systemic failures which lead to corruption in government departments.
  • Although CVC is “relatively independent” in its functioning, it neither has the resources nor the power to take action on complaints of corruption.