New Delhi: Eminent banker, Suresh N Patel has been appointed as Vigilance Commissioner on Wednesday. While taking the oath of the office, he followed social distancing norms. The oath was administered by Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) Sanjay Kothari through a video link. During the swearing-in ceremony, Vigilance Commissioner (VC) Sharad Kumar, Secretary, and other senior officers of the Commission were also present, said a press release from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Patel has over three decades of experience in the banking sector. Prior to his appointment as Vigilance Commissioner, he was the Managing Director and CEO (MD & CEO) of Andhra Bank and was an Executive Director in the Oriental Bank of Commerce.
He has been Member of the Management Committee of Indian Banks' Association, Member of Bankers' Institute of Rural Development (NABARD), President of State Level Bankers' Committee, Andhra Pradesh, and President of Bankers' Institute of Rural & Entrepreneurship Development.
He is a permanent invitee to the Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS) of RBI and a member of the Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF).
The tenure of Vigilance Commissioner extends up to four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years. The Central Vigilance Commission can have a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex governmental body created to address governmental corruption. The Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC in 2003. It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government, advising various authorities in the Central government organisations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.