New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is seriously considering changes to the existing Delhi Special Police Establishment Act to clear the decks for the appointment of the next CBI director. Speculation is also rife that the incumbent Ranjit Sinha, who is set to retire on December 2, may get a brief extension.
Top government sources indicated that in both cases either for the appointment of next director or giving extension to Mr Sinha the DSPE Act, which governs the CBI, needs to be amended.
“In both cases, the collegium consisting of PM (chairperson), the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India or the judge of the Supreme Court nominated by him, has to meet. As per the existing norm the Central government has to appoint the CBI director on the recommendation of the collegium only,” sources said.
Highly-placed government sources said that the Centre was examining the possibility on whether the norms for appointing the CBI chief could be amended by excluding the LoP as the Lok Sabha Speaker has already turned down the Congress’ demand for the post in Parliament. “The ministry concerned is taking legal opinion in this regard,” sources said.
Experts believe that the possibility of appointing next director or giving extension to the current CBI chief through an ordinance has already reduced after the announcement of the dates of the Winter Session of Parliament from November 24.
“It is a precedent that an ordinance is normally not brought when the dates of a Parliament Session are announced. So the government has only two options either to amend the DSPE Act in the coming session of Parliament or give additional power to the current special director Anil Sinha till the next appointment,” sources said. The Centre is preparing a list of senior most IPS officers from 1976 to 1979 batches. A couple of names are already doing the rounds as front runners.
Prakash Mishra, a 1977-batch IPS officer from Odisha cadre, is the front runner for the post. of CBI chief.
