This time the choice of CVC is unanimous

A high-powered committee has picked defence secretary Pradeep Kumar for the key post of Central Vigilance Commissioner, which till March 3 was held by a charge-sheeted former telecom secretary, PJ Thomas. A three-member panel of Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and Sushma Swaraj examined Kumar’s record and approved his appointment unanimously.

This statutory panel had earlier appointed Thomas despite Swaraj’s strong objection. This time it’s different. “The name has been finalised. I have not raised any objection,” Swaraj said after a 20-minute meeting at the Prime Minister’s official residence.

Taking a lesson from the top court’s judgment declaring Thomas’ appointment as CVC `non est’ (no existence in law), various intelligence agencies prepared a comprehensive report and submitted it to the department of personnel to make sure that the new CVC does not attract the charge of lack of 'institutional integrity’. The Supreme Court had said that the government had sacrificed institutional primacy and integrity in making Thomas the CVC. The menace of corruption can’t be swept under the carpet and 'an individual’ can’t be treated above law, the SC had declared.