Days after the Supreme Court came down on the government for turning the CBI into a “caged parrot”, the Centre on Wednesday submitted before it recommendations made by a group of ministers and approved by the Union Cabinet on ensuring the autonomy of the investigative agency.
The government’s chief recommendation is that the post of CBI director must be strengthened by bringing in a new system for his appointment under scrutiny of the apex court, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, while the director’s suspension should be brought about only by the President on grounds of proven misbehaviour and incapacity after an inquiry by the CVC.
The Centre’s 41-page affidavit also consists of an action taken report summarising the steps already taken by the Centre in the direction of ensuring the CBI’s independence. The Centre has stated it has been bringing significant changes in laws to free the CBI from extraneous influence, including by amending the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, and enacting the CVC Act, 2003. The government has recommended further changes to the DSPE Act, under the provisions of which the CBI operates, to provide the agency protection from political influence.