Govt files Affidavit in SC on CBI Autonomy

The government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court giving a detailed report on the move to make the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) autonomous body. According to the recommendations given by the GoM, the appointment of a CBI director is to be made by a committee comprising Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or a judge nominated by him.

CBIIn a 41-page affidavit, the government said that the Prime Minister will be the chairman of the committee and the Centre will not influence the agency in the probe.

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According to the GoM recommendations, an IPS officer will be selected for the post of CBI Director on the basis of his seniority, integrity and experience in the investigation of anti-corruption and criminal cases. The term of the CBI Director would be not less than two years and he cannot be transferred without the consent of the collegium headed by the Prime Minister.

The affidavit was filed in response to the apex court’s question that what the steps the government intended to take on CBI autonomy by making it free from political interference.

Earlier, the apex court had come down heavily on the CBI and the government by terming the agency “a caged parrot” after the CBI Director Ranjit Sinha admitted that the probe report into the allocation of coal blocks was shared with the former law minister Ashwani Kumar and officials of the Prime Minister’s Office and the coal ministry.

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