The issuance of orders regarding the selection of Delhi Police chief Alok Kumar Verma as the new CBI Director has been delayed due to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, one of the selection panel members, seeking time to put his queries on record. The orders are expected soon after the preparation of the minutes of the panel accommodating Kharge’s note. Meanwhile, the Government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the selection process is expected to finish by Friday.
The high-level selection panel comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and Opposition leader Kharge met on Monday evening to choose the new CBI Chief. In the meeting that lasted one-and-a-half-hours, Kharge said he had some queries and needs time to furnish a note in this regard. The Government had shortlisted more than 10 IPS officers in the Director General level and the panel zeroed in on three names of Verma, Maharashtra DGP Satish Mathur and Internal Security Special Secretary RK Dutta.
Kharge left the meeting 15 minutes before it ended and remained evasive to media queries about the outcome. However he told media “the law says that selection must be made according to merit, experience and seniority. Our issue is people who have worked for the CBI, Vigilance and, lokayukta should be given preference.” This made obvious that the Congress was not happy with Verma’s appointment.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi informed the apex court that all issues relating to the selection of the new CBI chief will be clear very soon, expected to be by Friday. He was responding before the Bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and A M Khanwilkar.
The bench deferred the hearing on a related PIl filed by Prashant Bhushan till January 20 after Rohatgi submitted that the minutes of the meeting of the selection panel “are still being drawn up”.
CBI Director’s post became vacant on December 2 after the retirement of Anil Sinha and the government appointed Additional Director Rakesh Asthana as acting chief. Just two days before Sinha’s retirement, the senior most officer RK Dutta was shunted out from CBI to Home Ministry. Dutta was widely considered as the next CBI chief.
Bhushan in his petition said the Centre’s move is a total violation of the SC guidelines on the selection of CBI chief and Asthana’s appointment as acting Director was government’s “covert plans” to control the investigating agency.