New Delhi: In the light of the Supreme Court issuing a notice to it over the appointment of Archana Ramasundaram, a 1980 IPS batch officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, as additional director in the agency, the CBI may request the apex court to review the selection procedure for senior-level appointments in the probe agency.
The CBI was impleaded in the case on Friday on request of solicitor general Mohan Parasaran, who was appearing on behalf of the government in the matter related to appointment of Ms Archana Ramasundaram in the agency.
The apex court, which has taken several steps in bringing operational autonomy to the CBI, had on Friday restrained Ms Archana Ramasundram from functioning as additional director as an interim relief to the petitioner who had challenged her appointment.
Sources in the agency said the CBI will be filing its reply soon after it was issued a notice by the apex court. Government sources said the CBI would request SC to review the selection procedure for officers at additional director and special director level in the agency.
The CBI director is only a special invitee in these appointments and his observations are not recorded.
The Apex court bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, while restraining her from discharging the functions of additional director CBI until July 14, clarified that interim order shall not be construed as reflection on the competence or merits of the officer in any manner whatsoever
The bench, however, said it has become necessary in view of strong prima facie case made out with regard to legal flaw in selection.
The bench, which also comprised justices A.K. Patnaik, K.S. Radhakrishnan and Surinder Singh Nijjar, agreed to a request by Solicitor General Parasaran in impleading CBI Director as party in the PIL filed by journalist Vineet Narain.
