A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to appoint a full-time Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The position has been lying vacant ever since Rishi Kumar Shukla retired on February 2. .The plea by NGO Common Cause filed through Advocate Prashant Bhushan states that a full-time appointment as per the statutory law is necessary for upholding the rule of law and for enforcement of the rights of the citizens under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution..The petition avers that the Centre failed to appoint the Director of CBI as per Section 4A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 on the expiry of the term of the last incumbent, Rishi Kumar Shukla on February 2. Instead, it appointed Praveen Sinha as an interim/acting CBI Director till the appointment of new CBI Director, or until further orders..Common Cause has prayed for a direction to the Centre to initiate the selection of the CBI Director well in advance, at least one or two months before the date on which the vacancy in the post arises..As per Section 4A(i) of DSPE Act, the appointment of the CBI Director has to be made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, leader of the single largest opposition party, and the Chief Justice of India (or any Judge of Supreme Court nominated by the CJI).
A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to appoint a full-time Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The position has been lying vacant ever since Rishi Kumar Shukla retired on February 2. .The plea by NGO Common Cause filed through Advocate Prashant Bhushan states that a full-time appointment as per the statutory law is necessary for upholding the rule of law and for enforcement of the rights of the citizens under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution..The petition avers that the Centre failed to appoint the Director of CBI as per Section 4A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 on the expiry of the term of the last incumbent, Rishi Kumar Shukla on February 2. Instead, it appointed Praveen Sinha as an interim/acting CBI Director till the appointment of new CBI Director, or until further orders..Common Cause has prayed for a direction to the Centre to initiate the selection of the CBI Director well in advance, at least one or two months before the date on which the vacancy in the post arises..As per Section 4A(i) of DSPE Act, the appointment of the CBI Director has to be made on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, leader of the single largest opposition party, and the Chief Justice of India (or any Judge of Supreme Court nominated by the CJI).