New Delhi, Saturday, July 02, 2011: Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar was today unanimously chosen the next Chief Vigilance Commissioner; four months after the Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of PJ Thomas to the post.

Though no official announcement has been made yet, sources said Kumar, who retires as Defence Secretary on July 31, was chosen by consensus by a panel comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.

Kumar, who will be 60 this month, is a Haryana cadre IAS officer of the 1972 batch. He was Secretary, Defence Production, before becoming the Defence Secretary. He will have a four year RPT four year term as prescribed under the CVC Act.

(News agency)