CVC issue: Centre may initiate action against officer

Facing scrutiny from the Supreme Court over the selection of P J Thomas as CVC, the Centre may initiate action against an officer who allegedly did not bring to the notice of selection committee that a request for prosecution sanction of him was pending with the government.

Official sources claimed that prior to the appointment of Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner, it was not brought to the notice of the selection committee that a request for prosecution sanction of him was pending with the Department of Personnel and Training.

The committee, comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, has not been informed about the issue, they said.

Besides, since Thomas' appointment till date, there was complete change of guard in the DoPT and a new Minister as well as a new Secretary took charge.

Then DoPT Minister Prithviraj Chavan was replaced by V Naranyanswamy and then Secretary Santanu Consul was succeeded by Alaka Sirohi. Even the concerned Joint Secretary went out of the Department during a routine transfer.

Sources said the government may now take administrative action against the concerned officer who was reponsisble for preparing the note on Thomas which was presented before the  selection committee.