As part of curbing corruptions and irregularities, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has laid down rules for appointment of independent external monitors in all public sector undertakings (PSUs) and government organisations to review all their contracts of over Rs 1 crore with private parties.

These monitors will be eyes and ears of the CVC to be appointed under a new concept of 'Integrity Pact' developed by the UPA government to examine complaints about the irregularities independently and directly report to CVC the cases of serious irregularities attracting provisions of the Prevention of the Corruption Act. A score of PSUs have already appointed such monitors to keep a watch on the high-value dealing by their executives.

In a circular issued on April 19, the CVC has now laid down who can be appointed such monitors and stressed that the PSU should forward to it at most three names for selecting one of them as the monitor.

It makes it clear that these monitors cannot be those serving or retired officers. They should be preferably recommended from among the senior officers of the government departments or PSUs who have retired from top management positions.

The circular says eminent persons like executives of private sector of considerable eminent will also be considered for selection as the independent external monitors. The monitors so appointed will have a tenure of three years, that can be extended by the CVC for another of two years, the circular said, adding that the organisations should recommend names after due diligence and scrutiny.