Kerala to expedite setting up of State Vigilance Commission

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to wriggle out from the embarrassment over the double role of Loknath Behera — as state police chief and as vigilance director — the state government may explore the scope of expediting the setting up of the State Vigilance Commission. The Administrative Reforms Commission led by former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan had mooted setting up of SVC on the line of Central Vigilance Commission last year. Moreover, the LDF's election manifesto had also prescribed setting up of SVC. But no serious efforts were being made to implement it.

Sources said that the government may consider SVC as an option to justify posting a ADGP-rank officer as Vigilance director.  Once the SVC is formed, the activities of the Vigilance would come under its control and hence there need not be a DGP-rank officer to head it. This could be also cited as a reason by the state for seeking a cadre review by the Centre and make any other post of DGP a cadre post, instead of that of Vigilance director. The administrative reforms commission had suggested a 3-member panel headed by a serving or retired HC judge and a former chief secretary or additional chief secretary as one member or a DGP or ADGP rank officer as another.