Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reached to discuss the appointment of CBI Director with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The appointment of CBI Director is done by a high-level committee, which includes the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice.
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has reached PMO. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi reached to meet PM regarding the appointment of the next CBI Director. Apart from Rahul Gandhi, CJI Sanjeev Khanna has also reached to meet PM.
Who appoints the CBI Director?
The selection process and possible candidates for the post of CBI Director are to be discussed. The opinion of the Leader of Opposition is considered important in the appointment of CBI Director, as this selection is done by a high-level committee, which includes the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India. This committee is chaired by the Prime Minister.
How is the CBI Director appointed?
The appointment of CBI Director is done under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. The candidate for this post is selected by a committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairman), the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him. The tenure of the Director is two years, which can be extended subject to conditions prescribed by the Central Government. Candidates are usually senior officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS), who are selected on the basis of their experience, impartiality and administrative ability.
Opposition has raised questions on CBI in the last few years
In the last few years, the opposition has constantly raised questions about the impartiality and autonomy of the CBI. Other opposition parties including the Congress have been alleging that the CBI is being used by the central government to target political opponents. The controversy deepened after the removal of the then CBI Director Alok Verma in 2018, when the opposition called it an attack on the independence of the investigating agency. Apart from this, the opposition has also questioned the pace and direction of the CBI’s investigation in many high-profile cases, with some cases being allegedly run at the behest of the government.
About the author
Anubhav Shakya
After studying journalism from IIMC in 2021, he entered journalism with Zee News. Born in Etah, UP but studied in Aligarh. After writing national and international news there for about one and a half years, he is now working in the news team at Navbharat Times.
Courtesy: Anubhav Shakya, NBT, Hindi News