New Delhi: Rajya Sabha on August 7 passed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Bill conferring statutory status on the CVC to probe offences committed by Central public servants, corporations, societies and local authorities.

Winding up the discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for Home Haren Pathak said it provides for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to obtain prior approval of the government before conducting any inquiry into an offence committed by officers of the rank of joint secretary or above in any government department or public sector undertaking.

The Bill, passed by Lok Sabha on February 26 this year, provides for appointment of a CVC and not more than four Vigilance Commissioners and stipulates that the head of the Commission would be appointed by a three-member panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Pathak said the Bill would be sent back to Lok Sabha for approval of an official amendment which clarifies that CBI is now under the control of Cabinet Secretariat.

The members demanded that they should not be treated as public servants and corruption cases against them should be registered only after proper permission to which Pathak said that necessary amendment in the Representation of Peoples' Act was under consideration.

The legislation, which aims at tackling the menace of corruption among government employees, repeals the government of India resolution of April 1999 under which the Commission is presently functioning as a non-statutory body.

PTI