Thiuvananthapuram: Outgoing Vigilance Director Vinson M. Paul has recommended to the government to do away with the direct recruitment of legal officers in the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and entrust the recruitment process to the Public Service Commission to ensure that highly competent lawyers are there to present vigilance cases in court as well as to give legal opinions.
At present, political affiliations are alleged to be the major criteria for appointing Legal Advisors to the VACB's legal wing that comprises one Legal Advisor and eight Additional Legal Advisors. This had even led to allegations while handling politically sensitive cases.
Moreover, many vigilance officials also feel that the quality of the Vigilance legal wing was often compromised in the direct selection process. Over the years, the conviction rate of Vigilance cases has come down drastically. According to available statistics, the conviction rate was 80.23 percent in 2009. By 2013, it came down to 59 per cent recording a decline every year.
Considering these issues, Mr Vison Paul recently recommended to the government to make appointments of Additional Legal Advisors through the Public Service Commission by conducting a written test and interview by experts.
This could ensure that competent lawyers join the VACB. Many of the present members of the legal wing were appointed by the previous LDF government. They can serve till the age of 56.
