Lokpal, CVC, CIC appointments in due course: Jitendra Singh

Rejecting charge of any deliberate delay, Union minister Jitendra Singh today said the appointments in Lokpal, CVC and CIC will happen in due course of time.
He said the government was committed to strengthen CBI and ensure its independence and smooth functioning.
"Government is committee to strengthen the institution of CBI to ensure its independence and smooth functioning. CBI is an independent organisation and it works within its own norms," he told PTI in an interview.
On the appointment of CVC, Singh said there is no deliberate, cautious or otherwise delay. The process has already started and appointments will happen in due course, he said.

The Minister of State for Personnel said there was a litigation in the Supreme Court on the appointments of Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners in the CVC.
There was a litigation filed in the Supreme Court, which was not at the behest of the Department of Personnel and Training, and there was a direction that an advertisement has to be put out so we followed that very seriously and we had to give time margin for that, he said.

"Even there is a direction that the process has to be kept in knowledge of the apex court so that has possibly led to some delay. But the process is certainly moving and appointment will happen," Singh said, adding the same is the case with the appointments in Central Information Commission (CIC).

Both CVC and CIC are working without their chiefs for over four months.
Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and Vigilance Commissioner completed their term on September 28 and September 7, last year, respectively. The CVC is headed by a Central Vigilance Commissioner and has two Vigilance Commissioners. Rajiv, a former Director General of Central Industrial Security Force, is acting as interim chief of the transparency watchdog.
Chief Information Commissioner Rajiv Mathur has completed his tenure on August 22, 2014.