The Central Vigilance Commission: vigilance over corruption in central administration

The Central Vigilance Commission, or CVC, is the apex vigilance institution for the Central Government. It was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, known as the Santhanam Committee, and was given statutory status by the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003. Its mandate is to inquire into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by central public servants, and to exercise superintendence over the vigilance work of central departments and the Central Bureau of Investigation in corruption cases.

The Commission consists of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners, appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. They hold office for four years or until the age of sixty-five, whichever is earlier. The Commission is not an investigating agency in the ordinary sense: it advises, supervises and reviews, and it refers cases for investigation and for departmental or criminal action.

The CVC's advice is a central part of disciplinary proceedings against central officers. Departments consult the Commission at stages such as the decision to initiate proceedings and the final penalty, and the Commission's advice is ordinarily followed, although the department remains responsible for the final decision. The Commission also promotes preventive vigilance, including transparency in procurement, e-governance and the identification of corruption-prone areas, and it receives complaints under the Public Interest Disclosure and Protection of Informers framework.

The CVC's limits are structural. It depends on departments for action, it does not control the police or the courts, and its jurisdiction is confined to central administration. Its value lies in creating an independent check inside the executive: an officer facing a corruption allegation knows that a body outside the department will examine the record. For students, the CVC illustrates the difference between vigilance, investigation and prosecution, which are often confused but are performed by different institutions.