[Central Vigilance Commission] Supreme Court issues notice to Central government on plea for timely, transparent appointments

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government in a petition seeking timely and transparent filling of long-pending vacancies in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) [Common Cause v. Union of India]..Notice was issued by a bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka in a petition filed by NGO Common Cause through advocate Prashant Bhushan..The petition said that the the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) had released advertisements for filling up of the posts of Vigilance Commissioner and Central Vigilance Commissioner in July 2020 and May 2021 respectively. However, no appointments were made pursuant to these advertisements.The plea pointed out that in June 2021, the lone remaining Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N Patel was authorized to act as the Central Vigilance Commissioner until such appointment was made..It was argued that the Supreme Court, in its 2011 judgment in Centre for PIL v. Union of India, had issued directions to ensure transparency and integrity in the process of appointment of CVC members. The Central government's failure to appoint members in a timely and transparent manner is in violation of these directions, the petitioner contended."Not only have the Respondents failed to fill the long standing vacancies in time; but moreover, in wilful disobedience of this Hon’ble Court’s direction that the Selection Committee should adopt a “a fair and transparent process”, the Respondents have vide RTI replies dated 22.09.2021 outrightly refused to give absolutely any information with respect to the appointment process that has been set in motion months ago with the issuance of advertisements for the post of Vigilance Commissioner and Central Vigilance Commissioner dated 17.07.2020 (15 months ago) and 04.05.2021 (5 months ago) respectively except for providing a copy of the advertisement itself and stating that the selection process is underway.".It was further highlighted that the Supreme Court in Anjali Bhardwaj v. Union of India, had directed that relevant information pertaining to the appointment of members to the Central Information Commission and the State Information Commissions must be put in the public domain.On these lines, a prayer has been made to place all details and documents regarding the selection process/appointments to be made to Central Vigilance Commission in the public domain.The plea also called for a direction to the Centre to take urgent steps to appoint the Vigilance Commissioner and the Central Vigilance Commissioner in pursuance of the advertisements issued in July 2020 and May 2021 respectively.