SC To Examine If CVC, VC Appointees Are Of Impeccable Integrity, Centre Defends Appointments

Defending the appointment of Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) KV Chaudhary and Vigilance Commissioner (VC) TM Bhasin, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the appointments were done by the selection committee and there is no scope for judicial review.

Appearing for the government, Attorney General for India told the bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra that the selection committee comprised the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Home Minister and they took unanimously decision on the appointments.

"The committee had dealt with the files containing all allegations against them and subsequently taken a decision. This is an administrative decision and all the materials were placed before the selection committee for examination... Then, unanimously, the top authorities took the decision,” he said.

While hearing arguments from AG, the bench observed that "The question is not of political interest but of impeccable integrity. The person appointed must be of impeccable integrity. Parameters of such Appointments are already laid by judgments in PJ Thomas  case

Appearing for petitioner NGO Centre for Integrity, advocate Prashant Bhushan submitted that there are overwhelming materials against Choudhary and Bhasin.

Despite allegations, the government had appointed them for the highest integrity institution.

"How can people with such records be appointed to the highest integrity institution of the country," Bhushan asked.

The plea had challenged the appointment of the CVC and the VC alleging that they did not have “clean record” and that a “complete non-transparency” procedure was followed while appointing them.

While Chaudhary was appointed as the CVC on June 6, 2015, Bhasin took charge as the VC on June 11 in the same year.

According to the PIL, their appointments were done “arbitrarily, which is in violation of the principle of institutional integrity”.

After hearing arguments from parties, the court posted the matter for Thursday for further hearing.