The Central Vigilance Commission was set up in 1964 on the recommendation of Santhanam Committee.
Justice Nottoor Srinivasa Rau became the first Central Vigilance Commissioner with effect from 19th February, 1964.
The Supreme Court of India, in Vineet Narain and others Vs.Union of India and others popularly known as Jain Hawala case, had directed on 18.12.1997 that statutory status should be conferred upon the Central Vigilance Commission. It came on the statute book as the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.
The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 provides for constitution of Central Vigilance.
Commission to inquire or to cause inquiries to be conducted into offences alleged to have been committed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 by certain categories of public servants.
The Act also empowers the Commission to exercise superintendence over the functioning of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) now called Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
