Former defence secretary Pradeep Kumar sworn in as CVC

Former defence secretary Pradeep Kumar was today sworn in as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner, filling a post that had lying vacant for some months, after the Supreme Court annulled the appointment of his predecessor, P J Thomas, over his alleged involvement in a corruption case.

He was administered the oath by president Pratibha Patil in the presence of vice president Hamid Ansari.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh, minister of state in the prime minister's office V Narayanasamy, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi and cabinet secretary Ajit Seth were also present during the ceremony.

Kumar, an IAS officer was appointed CVC after the cancellation of the appointment of P J Thomas by the Supreme Court .
 
Kumar will serve a three year term as CVC.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Delhi High Court today refused to grant an urgent hearing on Thomas' plea against the swearing-in of Kumar as his successor.

A division bench of justice Vikramajit Sen and justice Siddharth Mridul, referring to the scheduled oath ceremony of the new CVC, said it was difficult to take up the petition at the eleventh hour.