New Delhi: Congress Leader Randeep Surjewala moved on thursday Supreme court Challenging Central Government ordinances extending the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)CBI) heads from two to five years.
He has filed a petition against the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, on November 14. Ministry of PersonnelThe November 15 notification amends fundamental rules that enable the government to extend the tenure of ED, CBI chiefs as well as defence, home and foreign secretaries.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Surjewala claimed that these ordinances empower the Indian government to grant “piecemeal extension” of one year each for the tenure of ED and CBI directors.
No criteria have been provided other than a vague reference to “the public interest” and are, in fact, based on the subjective satisfaction of the respondents. This has a direct and obvious effect of curtailing the independence of the investigative bodies in question.” Said in the petition.
Surjewala also alleged that the extension of tenure in this “ad hoc and episodic fashion” confirms the control of executive There is a “direct adversary” on the investigative agencies and for their independent functioning.
The Congress leader said the CBI and ED directors had a fixed tenure of two years, but now they can be given an extension every year, as long as the cumulative extension does not exceed five years from the initial date of appointment.
“Thus it would mean that each permissible extension would be at the discretion and subjective satisfaction of the appointing authority,” he said.
The Congress leader has also sought interim relief from the court, alleging that the ordinances violate court orders issued from time to time to ensure independence of such institutions and it amounts to apparent abuse of power by the authorities. also reveals.
He has filed a petition against the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, on November 14. Ministry of PersonnelThe November 15 notification amends fundamental rules that enable the government to extend the tenure of ED, CBI chiefs as well as defence, home and foreign secretaries.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Surjewala claimed that these ordinances empower the Indian government to grant “piecemeal extension” of one year each for the tenure of ED and CBI directors.
No criteria have been provided other than a vague reference to “the public interest” and are, in fact, based on the subjective satisfaction of the respondents. This has a direct and obvious effect of curtailing the independence of the investigative bodies in question.” Said in the petition.
Surjewala also alleged that the extension of tenure in this “ad hoc and episodic fashion” confirms the control of executive There is a “direct adversary” on the investigative agencies and for their independent functioning.
The Congress leader said the CBI and ED directors had a fixed tenure of two years, but now they can be given an extension every year, as long as the cumulative extension does not exceed five years from the initial date of appointment.
“Thus it would mean that each permissible extension would be at the discretion and subjective satisfaction of the appointing authority,” he said.
The Congress leader has also sought interim relief from the court, alleging that the ordinances violate court orders issued from time to time to ensure independence of such institutions and it amounts to apparent abuse of power by the authorities. also reveals.
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