Talking to The Indian Express, he said: ``Since the CVC's statutory status can only be restored by Parliament, I will not be issuing any orders under Section 8 (A) of the CVC Act or doing any advisory work. I will only be looking at complaints till Parliament passes the Bill.''

Vittal said that the entire episode had created a predicament which could have led to a contempt of the Supreme Court. ``If the directives of the Supreme Court are not implemented by the government it will amount in my view a case of contempt of court. The government's position will become completely untenable.''

Vittal,in fact, compared his situation with that of Pune's demolition man, Arun Bhatia. ``Look at what happened in Pune when the Municipal Commissioner was transferred? There was an outcry when he was moved out. In my case, it is the Supreme Court which had visualised the CVC as a statutory authority. So how can you now unscramble the omelette? ''

Making his position clear on the current controversy over statutory status for the CVC, he said: ``I would like to make one thing very clear. I never sought this job and was oblivious of my name being considered for the post. In fact, after my appointment was announced, I met the PM and told him that my appointment was the best kept secret of the government after the Pokharan blasts.''

Asked if there was any resistance from the government to the changes he was trying to introduce such as the Seizure of Corrupt Officials' Property Act? Vittal said, ``I am trying to bring in a culture of transparency with my three-point plan. In which simplification is the first.Empowerment of the public is number two and effective punishment is the third.''