Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate are well-respected agencies of India known for their transparency and strict set of rules.
Recently, these two agencies are again in the limelight due to the objection of the petitioner, Vineet Narain who is known as the man behind the iconic reforms in the selection of the CBI Chief.
Mr Vineet Narain, who had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the rules in the selection of the chiefs of these organizations respectively said that the government and Supreme Court must now come together and decide upon the tenure of the chiefs. He said that the government should bring a reform in the selection of the chief and provide an extension in the service at a one time stretch.
It is to be noted that the Chiefs of these two highly reputed organizations have a tenure of five years, there has been an extension of two years recently in their service. He has questioned the sanctity of the previous judgement passed on by The supreme court in the year 1997 and requested the court to reevaluate the merits of the judgment.
He felt that the government is in a hurry to decide and should have formed a panel of ministers to discuss the extension and also the Supreme court should have put its point before the Government. The Supreme Court should also look into the matter of autonomy of both these organizations.
Further taking his point ahead, he said that the Supreme Court should intervene in this sensitive matter as both these organizations chief has their positions and importance. An extension of two years should be provided to the chief at once because an extension at different intervals of time may lead to them being blackmailed. There’s hardly any chief of the organization who would want to retire and this would not give space to the other chief in success.
The chief may be subjective to the whim and fancy of the government. If he’s following the orders of the government, his extension would go on increasing and if not, he’ll be suspended This would lead to the questioning of the transparency of the government as well. as of the organizations.
There were mixed responses to this objection raised by Narain.
A former chief of the organization who wished to remain anonymous said that the government would approve the tenure to be extended of the chiefs but it may not be transparent. If he wishes to obey the government, he’ll be given an extension otherwise he might get suspended.
Another Official told that this might prove beneficial as the chief might be able to take the cases longer and provide a thorough investigation.
Former CBI Chief, Mr Vijay Shankar has said that this extension completely depends on the government. If the government can extend it for two years, it can get further extended too. The decision’s fruitfulness will depend on the person who is going to head the organization. If he can maintain transparency and discipline, his designs and investigations won’t be questioned.
Mr Vineet Narain has urged the government to provide the tenure of five years in one go so that the CBI CHIEF, as well as the ED CHIEF, don’t feel pressured under any circumstances to work and this might prevent them from compromising on their efficiency and transparency. It is indeed the need of the hour.
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