After CBI’s two chief officers are caught in the feud over allegations inside the department, the center has finally decided to take action against both the officers.
A new interim chief has been appointed in place of the suspended Directors of the bureau, HT reports.
Now after CBI director Alok Verma was dismissed of his duties, he moved the SC challenging government’s orders dismissing him.
Now the big question is whether the government is entitled with powers that can remove an acting CBI chief?
According to Indian law, the agency’s chief cannot be removed at the government’s discretion.
However, the government may argue that powers do lie with them but the sole authority that enjoys the supervisory powers over the federal investigation agency is the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and turns out it was the one that has passed the orders of suspension.
It is however not clear whether the CVC itself has the powers to do what it did or, whether, this agency, or for that matter any other, has the powers to ask someone who doesn’t want to go on leave to go on leave.
Prime Minister, CJI, Opposition leader are the prominent functionaries that have authority to appoint the CBI Director.
The ousted CBI chief contends the same. He said that by law the government’s action infringes the independence of the agency.