CBI director A.P. Singh in his presentation before the parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice on September 7 is set to raise the issue of “more autonomy and independence” to the India’s premier investigating agency.
According to sources the director will also submit a detailed report to the parliamentary committee regarding the proposed structure of the agency’s working relationship with the anti-corruption panel, the Lokpal. Sources said Mr Singh has prepared a detailed report after discussing the issue with top officials of the agency as well as heads of all units of the CBI.
“While referring the Supreme Court judgement in the “Vineet Narain case”, Mr Singh is expected to raise the issue of more autonomy to the CBI. He will also tell the parliamentary committee that officials of the agency are in favour of working under the supervision and monitoring of Lokpal provided their wings are not separated,” sources said.
Sources further said, “Without opposing Lokpal, Mr Singh would raise the issue of more autonomy to the CBI. He would ask for zero interference from government departments and ministries. The agency is of the view that is should be retained in its present form as the only premier investigating agency for corruption cases, in line with the Supreme Court Judgement in the Vineet Narain case”.
The underlying theme in both the draft Lokpal bills is to confer more autonomy on the investigation agency so as to insulate it from interference, sources said. Mr Singh is of the view that this kind of autonomy and independence can be given to the CBI by conferring Lokpal with all such powers because of which interference is said to be caused in functioning of CBI, sources said adding he will raise this point also in his presentation.