D K Sikri to become new Chief Vigilance Commissioner
Sikri had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week before his appointment
By : mukesh ranjan
Update: 2014-08-21 02:20 GMT
New Delhi: D.K. Sikri, a 1975-batch Gujarat cadre IAS officer, is set to be the next chief vigilance commissioner, replacing Pradeep Kumar, who will leave office next month.
PMO sources said after Mr Sikri’s hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, his name is considered “almost clear” for the post, as the selection panel won’t have any dissenting voice in the absence of a Leader of the Opposition.
The CVC selection panel comprises the PM, Lok Sabha Speaker and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Sources said an announcement would likely in a few days.
Mr Sikri’s name had, incidentally, figured in the shortlist that had been sent to the PMO during the Manmohan Singh government for the post of vigilance commissioner. The then government had not considered it, partly because he was a Gujarat cadre officer and was considered close to Mr Modi.
Like PMO additional principal secretary P.K. Mishra, Mr Sikri is regarded as a close confidant of Mr Modi, and had served in key posts during Mr Modi’s 12-year-long tenure as CM. He was secretary, department of justice, at the Centre before he retired on July 31, 2013. Before that he also served as secretary in women and child development ministry.