Challenge to Alok Verma’s ouster from CBI [Live Updates from Supreme Court]

The hearing in the case brought by CBI Director Alok Verma and NGO Common Cause challenging the decision of Central government to send Verma on leave is currently progressing in the Supreme Court of India.The matter is being heard by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph..This decision by the Central government to send Verma on leave came in the wake of the internal crisis that has plagued the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after it registered an FIR against its joint Director Rakesh Asthana..Live updates of today’s hearing follow..CVC and Justice AK Patnaik have filed reports. CVC has said in its report that some charges need a further probe.Supreme Court says it will give CVC report to Alok Verma in sealed cover whereupon Verma can file his reponse and the Court can take a decision.No details have been given with respect to the decisions taken by Acting Director Nageshwar Rao. “We will presume he has not taken any major decision”, CJI Ranjan Gogoi remarks.Tushar Mehta appearing for CVC tells the court that despite being counsel for CVC, he has not seen the report.“Who are you?”, asks Gogoi J; “I am [for] CVC”, responds Mehta; “You are the author of the report and you have not seen it”, queries Gogoi J.;”I as a lawyer have not seen it”, says Tushar Mehta..Court passing its order now.“Before taking any decision, we are of the view that CVC report should be served on petitioner Alok Verma. It will be open for Verma to file his response in a sealed cover”, Supreme Court.This is necessary in order to uphold public confidence in an institution like CBI, Supreme Court.Copy of CVC Report also to be served on the office of Attorney General and Solicitor General. The Centre will however not file any response to it at this stage, Supreme Court.The matter will be heard now on Tuesday next week..In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had granted the CVC two weeks time to submit an inquiry report on whether there is a prima facie case that could be made out with respect to certain allegations that had been levelled against Alok Verma. This inquiry was to be conducted under the supervision of retired Supreme Court judge, AK Patnaik..In the meanwhile, the Court had also directed that no major policy decisions should be taken by M Nageshwar Rao, who had been appointed as the interim director of the CBI..Whereas the case had initially been posted for November 12, the Supreme Court deferred to the hearing to today after the after a delay by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in submitting an inquiry report against Verma..Read the order below.