Heena Sharma Blog

The Centre has for the third consecutive time extended the last date for applying for the top posts in the anti-corruption watchdog Central Vigilance Commission due to "lack of response" from eligible candidates, officials said Friday. The Personnel Ministry had in March end initiated the process of filling up the posts of central vigilance commissioner and vigilance commissioner. The last date for sending application to the ministry was May 1, which was first extended to May 22 and then till June 6, it said in an order. The date is further extended to June 17, the ministry said. Incumbent Central Vigilance Commissioner K V Chowdary and Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin demit offices this month after completing their tenure. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) consists of a central vigilance commissioner and two vigilance commissioners. Former chief of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Sharad Kumar is the other Vigilance Commissioner. "There are no

The Supreme Court Thursday reserved judgement on the petition moved by CBI Director Alok Verma , challenging the Centre's decision to divest him of all powers and sending him on leave. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi concluded the arguments on behalf of Verma, Centre, Central Vigilance Commission and others who were party in the matter. The court also heard the petition moved by NGO Common Cause which had sought court-monitored SIT probe into allegations of corruption against various CBI officials including Special Director Rakesh Asthana. Read More Business Standard

The Delhi High Court Thursday extended till Nov 14 its order asking the CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Special Director Rakesh Asthana , allegedly involved in a bribery case. Both CBI and Asthana opposed in the high court the plea of Additional SP S S Gurm, who has been transferred from Delhi to Jabalpur in the wake of feud between CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma and Asthana, to be heard in the matter. The High Court on October 23 had ordered the CBI to maintain status quo on proceedings against Asthana which was further extended on October 29 till Thursday, November 1. The October 23 order had also made it clear that the agency would not take any coercive step against Asthana. Earlier in the day, the CBI in its reply to Asthana's plea seeking to quash an FIR against him, said that allegations against him and others show cognisable offences. The CBI filed the reply in response to the notice issued to it on the petition filed by Asthana against the l