No need for permission to probe corrupt government officials: Supreme Court to CBI
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday held as invalid and unconstitutional the legal provision which makes sanction of competent authority mandatory for CBI to probe a corruption case against an officer of joint secretary-rank or above, saying it has the propensity of shielding the corrupt.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha delivered the judgement after examining Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (DSPEA), which protects top bureaucrats from being investigated in corruption cases without prior approval.
“We hold Section 6A of the Act, which requires Central Government’s approval for the offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) to make inquiry against officer of the rank of joint secretary and above, as invalid and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution,” the bench, also comprising justices A K Patnaik, S J Mukhopadhaya, Dipak Misra and F M I Kalifulla, said.
It said there cannot be any classification of officers for the purpose of inquiry of offence under the PCA.
“The corrupt public servants, higher or lower in rank, are the birds of same feather and have to be dealt with equally,” the court observed.
Maintaining that “corruption is an enemy of nation”, the bench said that it is difficult to make classification of officers in graft cases as it is against the mandate of the PCA.
It said that the prior approval under Section 6A would result, indirectly, in halting the investigation and if the CBI is not allowed to carry on the preliminary inquiry how the investigation can proceed.
“We are of the view that there can be no distinction between certain class of officials for inquiry of the offences under the PCA.
“How can the status of officials be of any relevance in the offence under PCA and any distinction by way of Section 6A of the DSPEA makes it violative of Article 14,” the bench said, adding that the protection as provided in Section 6A has the propensity of shielding the corrupt.
CBI welcomes Supreme Court's ruling
CBI has welcomed the top court's ruling striking down the provision of seeking mandatory prior approval to probe against officers of the rank of joint secretary and above, saying a number of cases will be expedited following the judgement.
Terming it as a "landmark" judgement in criminal justice system, CBI said it added additional responsibilities on the probe agency so that "due diligence" is done before examining any official of the rank of Joint Secretary and above.
"We welcome this decision. This matter was pending before the Supreme Court and finally a decision came today. This decision will go a long way in finalising several cases pending before us," CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said here.
He said more responsibilities have been put on CBI following the judgement to ensure no innocent is subjected to this provision.
"We will be strengthening our already existing mechanism and due diligence will be done before questioning any senior officer. This decision will be taken only at an officer of the rank of Joint Director or above in CBI," Sinha said.
