Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Alok Verma – who was asked to go on leave by the Centre three months back – has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. This is being seen as a major embarrassment for the Central government.
The apex court cancelled the order that removed Verma and asked another officer, M Nageshwar Rao, to take over as interim chief. The court in its order said today set aside the government’s move and observed that the procedure to remove an incumbent CBI director has been set out in law. “If there was intent to specify interim measures for Director CBI then the legislation would have contained the provision,” the Supreme Court observed, referring to the government appointing M Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI chief.
While the court has asked Verma to take over as the CBI chief, he has been asked to not take any major policy decision.
In October, Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana, were both sent on leave after they brought charges of corruption against each other.
Verma then moved court saying that it was against the rules that any action of removal for the CBI chief can be taken only by a committee and not by the government alone. The Supreme Court today said that the government did not have the authority to send Verma on leave.
The only institution that can take action against the CBI director is the high-powered committee consisting of the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The committee has been requested to meet within a week in order to decide on whether any action must or needs to be taken against Verma.
