Govt struggles to fill up top posts in security agencies

Vacancies to the top seven security and investigative agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, National Investigation Agency, Sashastra Seema Bal are waiting to be filled up.

However, the United Progressive Alliance 2 government is struggling to identify Indian Police Service officers for these senior appointments. 

The government in December 2012 is expected to appoint RAW and IB chiefs. However, there is no movement of files to this effect.

The convention has been that successors to the top slots are announced two months in advance so that the new appointee would be understudy for two months.

For the post of director CBI, the government is yet to receive a panel of three names from the Central Vigilance Commission, which gets converted into a search committee for the CBI director, as per Supreme Court rulings.

The UPA 2 government is also yet to fill up the post of secretary security in the Cabinet Secretariat since April 2012. This is considered a very important position as the secretary security is responsible for the personal security of the prime minster and other Special Protection Group protectees. Not filling up the post of secretary security is a breach of Parliament as the SPG Act was passed with stringent clauses all devoted to the personal safety of the PM.