Supreme Court orders CBI chief Alok Verma to continue his tenure

Guwahati: A Supreme Court bench comprising of three judges, led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has ordered that CBI chief Alok Verma will continue being the investigation agency chief and neither the State nor the Central Vigilance Commission has the right to hamper the term of the CBI chief. Verma was divested of his power by the government on October 23-24.

The Supreme Court bench of three justices comprised of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, S.K. Kaul and K.M. Joseph. The bench pronounced the verdict in open court with justice Kaul reading out excerpts of the judgment.

The verdict made by the top court justices stated that Alok Verma should have not been divested from the CBI directorship and for that a joint approval of the committee of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is necessary. On that ground, the CBI chief cannot be stripped off his power suddenly without any prior approval.

The apex court also mentioned that the DSPE (Delhi Special Police Establishment) Act gave neither the CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) nor the governments any power to disengage the CBI Chief from his functions and duties. The government or the CVC cannot practice their superintendence over the CBI Director.

Although the Supreme Court has brought Alok Verma back in power, but it has also mentioned that Mr. Verma shall take no "major policy decision" till a final call is being taken on his fate by the high-powered panel. This is also mandatory of the committee to meet within a week as Mr. Verma is retiring by the end of this month.

It has also been reminded by the top court bench that the Central Investigation Bureau has been tried to be kept above the reach of the State and political higher-ups for which DSPE Act has made it mandatory for the Prime Minister-led panel to recommend the appointment of a CBI Director.

Also read: Centre defends divesting CBI Director Alok Verma of charge