SRINAGAR: After controversy and delay, Former Director General of Kashmir Police, Kuldeep Khoda has been finally approved as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of the state, local media reports.
The anti-graft Vigilance Commission came into being in 2011 and has been empowered to inquire or cause inquiries to be conducted into offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006 by public servants, employees of corporations, government companies, societies and local authorities owned or controlled by the Government.
But its first head was appointed only on Monday, after much deliberations and controversy over the nominee, Kuldeep Khoda, the greater Kashmir reported.
They said Khoda has been asked to take over the new responsibility immediately so that the Commission could start functioning, the newspaper wrote.
“He will be provided with all sort of the infrastructure and other support in order to ensure that the Commission starts effective functioning,” it cited sources as saying.
A former IPS officer of 1974 batch, Kuldeep Khoda, retired as the longest serving DG Police of the state before being nominated as the CVC.
Many political leaders had opposed his selection and opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti reportedly walked out of the meeting over Khoda’s nomination, raking up the issue of civilian deaths in 2010 when widespread clashes took place between Kashmiri youths and security forces.
“He (Khoda) is also reportedly facing public interest litigation in the state high court over accusations of his involvement extrajudicial killings in Doda when he was DIG of that range. Khoda’s nomination would smack of quid pro quo and amount to a brazen compromise on fighting corruption,” Mufti had said in May 2012.
The litigation was soon dismissed, but Khoda’s selection remained under wraps. “Governor N N Vohra had already given consent to the name of Khoda for his appointment as SVC head but the formal orders were issued only now,” the newspaper wrote citing its sources.
However the fate of two former bureaucrats, R K Jerath and Syed Khan who were recommended for being members of the Vigilance Commission, is not clear.
The Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners will have to take oath according to the form set out for the purpose in schedule to this Act.
