At a time when the CBI’s independent functioning is under the scanner, a Parliamentary panel on Friday suggested enactment of a new law or amendment in the present Act for the probe agency to give it more statutory backing.
The Committee, in its report tabled in Parliament, has said the “archaic” Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1947 governing CBI was “grossly inadequate” and asked the Ministry of Personnel to either make changes in it or enact a new law.
The CBI has recently been facing flak from the Supreme Court as well as Opposition parties over the UPA Government’s tinkering into the investigation of sensitive cases like the coal block allocation scam.
The Committee has also recommended a new legislation on the lines of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 so that the CBI can probe corruption cases throughout the country without the States’ consent.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice in its report expressed unhappiness over large number of vacancies in the CBI and suggested the investigating agency to have its own cadre of officials to fill up such vacant posts.
As many as 831 posts at different levels were lying vacant in the CBI, according to a data updated till December 31, 2012. The total sanctioned strength of CBI is 6,586.
The vacancies existed in the ranks of Special or Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Superintendent of Police, Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Inspector, Sub- Inspector, Assistant Sub-Inspector and Head Constable.
The posts of 54 law Officers and 94 Technical Officers at various levels were also lying vacant.
“The Committee wishes to drive home the point that a premier investigating agency such as CBI should have an independent and proficient departmental cadre of its own, rather than being dependent on the States and other organisations to spare their officers or personnel for deputation in CBI,” the report said.
Taking into account the sensitive nature of the cases dealt with by CBI, the Committee also underscored the need for full-fledged forensic laboratories at the disposal of the agency.