Unlike old soldiers, old babus do not fade away. As the adage goes, the sun never sets on bureaucrats and every vacancy triggers a post-retirement roulette in which retired civil servants armed with files on their past achievement engage in hectic lobbying to ensure they remain in the power. The latest vacancy in the anti-corruption watchdog, the Central Vigilance Commission for the post of the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and Vigilance Commissioner (VC) has attracted over 120 retired bureaucrats who have thrown their hats in the ring. However, the government is in a fix, thanks to the intensive scrutiny by the Supreme Court, the leader of the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and eminent lawyers.
Sources said entire process is being closely monitored by the apex court which had asked the Centre on December 17, 2014 to take its permission before appointing the CVC and VC. It had also sought details about the selection process. This has resulted in a massive delay in filling up the positions that are lying vacant since September last year. Reliable sources told The Sunday Standard that Devender Sikri, a 1975-batch IAS officer; Pervez Dewan who retired as secretary Tourism; and Pankaj Jain, former secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation are among those in the race for the posts, of which 40 are serious contenders.
According to top government sources, the contest has gained traction after current CV Rajiv threw his hat in the ring eyeing the top post of CVC. An IPS officer of 1975-batch, Rajiv is learnt to be the senior-most retired police officer in the race. If Rajiv is elevated as CVC, the government will have to select an IAS officer and a former Chairman or Managing Director of Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to fill the two VC posts. In case, the selection panel headed by PM picks CVC from the fresh short-list, it will have to select just one VC from the candidates with experience in public sector enterprise, banking, insurance or vigilance.
“Amongst the CVC and the VCs, not more than two persons shall belong to the category of persons referred to either in clause 3 (3)(a)- All India Service Officers- or Clause (b)-former chairman of CPSE or eminent persons with experience in enterprise, banking, insurance or vigilance,” Section 3(3) of CVC act, 2003 says. Sources said Devender K Sikri of Gujarat cadre is among the several top contender for CVC position. A native of Punjab, Sikri retired in July 2013 as Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice. During his central deputation, Sikri also served in the Home and Women & Child Development Ministries. During his stint in the state, Sikri was instrumental in setting up industrial hub at Kutch, Surat and Jamnagar. According to CVC rules, the candidate should not be more than 62 years of age on January 1, 2015. CVC and VC hold office for a term of four years from the date of joining or till he/she attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
Sources said going by the seniority list, Sikri is the only 1975 batch IAS officer who is being considered by the government. Interestingly, Sikri had applied for VC’s position last year after R Srikumar retired on January 27, 2014. However, UPA government had selected Rajiv, who retired as chief of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in October 2013.
It is learnt Vishwapati Trivedi, who retired as Secretary, Ministry of Shipping in November 2014, is also in the race. A native of Uttar Pradesh, Trivedi joined IAS in 1977 and he was allocated Madhya Pradesh cadre. An economics post-graduate, Trivedi served in Finance, Commerce, Civil Aviation and Home Affairs during his central deputation. Trivedi’s batch-mate and member of Securities Appellate Tribunal, Amarjeet Singh Lamba, is also said to be in the race. Lamba, a 1977-batch officer, was appointed Member of Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in 2013. He earlier served as secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Special Secretary in Ministry of Agriculture and Chief Vigilance Officer of Indian Oil Corporation.
Former Petroleum Secretary G C Chaturvedi, who is currently serving as Member, Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority, is also tipped to be selected for vigilance post. A retired bureaucrat of 1977 batch, Chaturvedi served in finance and health ministries. He was in-charge of the National Rural Health Mission while serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2007. Another probable candidate, Arun Kumar Jain, retired as Secretary, Women and Child Development. A 1977 batch Nagaland-cadre IAS officer, Jain has vast experience of serving in home ministry, Prasar Bharti and ministry of heavy industries.