JOIN USSpeaking to reporters after assuming charge, the former defence secretary warned people to refrain from witch hunt to settle personal scores.
Terming corruption as a disease which is affecting people and nation, Kumar said “Corruption is not a monopoly either of higher echelon or lower echelon. Wherever corruption is there, it has to be dealt strictly and persistently.”
A 1972 batch Haryana cadre IAS officer, Kumar was administered oath of office by the President. Kumar, who will have a tenure of a little over three years, said “corrupt persons will be punished swiftly and definitely.”
Kumar (62) said “People have a lot of expectations from CVC. We hope that we will be able to live up to that with the cooperation of all. There has to be transparency in the system.”
But he refused to comment on his predecessor P J Thomas, whose appointment was quashed by the Supreme Court citing pending charge sheet in a corruption case against him in Kerala.
Thomas wanted that his appeal pending with President Pratibha Patil be decided first before Kumar could assume charge but his plea for urgent hearing in this regard was refused on Thursday by the Delhi High Court.
Kumar’s appointment was cleared by a high level panel comprising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on July 2.