NEW DELHI, July 14 (IANS): Former defence secretary Pradeep Kumar was Thursday sworn in as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).
Kumar, 62, a Haryana cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, replaces P.J. Thomas, whose appointment was cancelled by the Supreme Court in March after it was found that his name figured in a corruption case in Kerala.
President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office to Kumar at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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 amongst those present at the ceremony.
Kumar, who will serve for three years, was unanimously chosen for the post by a panel comprising Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Sushma Swaraj.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court Thursday refused to grant an urgent hearing on Thomas' plea against the swearing-in of Kumar as his successor.
