Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 11: State Government today formally issued orders appointing former Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) of Jammu and Kashmir and former Financial Commissioner, R K Jerath as Vigilance Commissioner and major revamp in the State Vigilance Organization is likely shortly to ensure early start of working by the Commission.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that soon after the Chief Minister signed the file regarding appointment of Khoda as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Jerath as Vigilance Commissioner on February 4, 2013, the General Administration Department prepared a draft of the order and sent the same to the Governor N N Vohra for his approval. “This was mandatory as the orders regarding appointments on the constitutional posts are issued under the signature of the Governor”, sources added.
“The file with the approval of the Governor for issuance of orders was received this morning and accordingly the Government issued two separate SRO appointing Khoda as first CVC of the State and Jerath as Vigilance Commissioner”, sources said, adding “the date for administering oath of office and secrecy to Khoda and Jerath would be finalized by the State Government in consultation with Raj Bhawan soon after the prevailing tense situation improves in the Kashmir valley. At present, Chief Minister as well as the Valley-based Ministers are camping in summer capital of the State and personally monitoring the situation”.
In response to a question, sources said, “no decision has yet been taken for the post of another Vigilance Commissioner. If the Government intends to fill up this post it will have to carry out afresh the entire exercise as laid down in the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act”. The appointment for another post of Vigilance Commis-sioner could not be made as former Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M S Khan, whose name was earlier proposed for the same, declined to accept the responsibility of the post due to personal reasons.
Stating that exercise to revamp State Vigilance Organization (SVO) to facilitate the smooth function of the Vigilance Commission has already been going on, sources said, “in the days to come Government will appoint Director of Vigilance for the State on the recommendation of the Committee consisting of Chief Secretary, Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioner”, adding “while making a recommendation, the committee will take into consideration the integrity and experience of the officers eligible for appointment”.
Responding to another question, sources said, “Director of Vigilance would be an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Police. He will look after the administration of the Vigilance Organization for a period of not less than two years from the date on which he assumes office”.
The committee referred to in Section 22 of the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act would be empowered to recommend officers for appointment to the posts of the level of Superintendent of Police and above and also recommend the extension or curtailment of the tenure of such officers in consultation with the Director of Vigilance, sources said.
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