Srinagar, Apr 28: Ahead of okaying the constitution of much-awaited State Vigilance Commission, the Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday decided to invite public opinion over the proposal to bring amendments in the recently enacted State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 to harmonize it with the central law.
 Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that a proposal to amend certain provisions of the Act, especially those dealing with the clauses like eligibility, mode of appointment and removal of the head of the Commission, and its members, was discussed in the state cabinet meeting today.
 Sources said the cabinet decided for placing the draft changes in the Act in the public domain for inviting suggestions ahead of approving the amendments and subsequently bringing an ordinance to constitute the Commission.
 “If there are some healthy suggestions, the General Administration Department will come back to the cabinet with the same for its approval following which government will bring an ordinance to set up the law. The whole process has to be completed in one month. It may require approval from Chief Election Office as code of conduct is in vogue due to ongoing Panchayat elections,” sources said. The GAD is the nodal agency for setting up the SVC.
 Sources said after the assent from the Raj Bhawan to the State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 earlier this year, reservations had poured in from different quarters against some provision of the existing Act regarding qualification, mode of appointment and removal of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners. Following these suggestions the chief minister had called a meeting after which a draft ordinance was prepared by the GAD in consultation with the Law Department and authorities concerned to make the law more powerful.
 “The draft bill prepared by the GAD is a move to harmonize the law with the central act so that different state and central service and police service come under its ambit. Besides the process related to eligibility, appointment and removal of the head of the Commission was also reframed,” sources said. The draft bill is available on the GAD website.
 According to the proposed amendments, the State Government has redefined the qualification of the persons to be appointed as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and the two Commissioners by proposing to lay thrust on the persons having knowledge and experience in the matters relating to vigilance, law, finance, policy making and administration including police administration.
 Accordingly it has been proposed that the CVC and the VCs would be appointed by the Governor instead by the government.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST