Govt opposes CBI plea in SC
Making it clear an all-powerful CBI director without any adequate checks and balances will always carry the risk of “potential misuse”, the Centre on Friday opposed the agency’s plea in the Supreme Court for more powers for its director and for increasing his tenure to three years from the existing two.
In a 22-page affidavit, the government rejected the CBI’s objections to an accountability commission, and declared the need for an external, independent, strong watchdog was imperative.
The government said it was against the CBI director having complete disciplinary control over Group A officers. “An all-powerful CBI director without adequate checks and balances would not be consonant with settled constitutional principles and always carry the risk of potential misuse, and may not be conducive to fearless and independent functioning of the organisation at all levels”, the affidavit said. The court, which is monitoring the CBI’s coal scam investigations, will scrutinise the stand of both the agency and the government on Tuesday.
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