PIL against CBI special director’s appointment

The Union government’s decision to promote IPS officerRakeshAsthanaasspecial director in CBI has been challenged in Supreme Court on the grounds that it is illegal, arbitraryandviolatestheprincipleof impeccableintegrity andinstitutional integrity as laid down by the top court.

A Public interest Litigation filed by NGO, Common Cause, alleges that on October 22, the appointments committee of the CabinetpromotedAsthana,additionaldirector,asspecialdirector CBI,thenumbertwointheprobe agency, despite dissent from its own director.

The petition says the CBI director had moved a two-page note in the meeting of the selection committee on October 21 comprising the chief vigilance commissioner, vigilance commissioners, home secretary and secretary, DoPT.

Asthana is under CBI probe for accepting bribes from Gujarat-based Sterling Biotech and SandesaraGroupofCompanies.

Thepetitionsays:“Whilethere is no clarity over what actually transpired in the selection committee meeting... it is clear that thegovernmentandtheselection committeeoverruledtheopinion of thedirector,CBIinviolationof thelaw ...aslaiddowninvarious judgments.”

OnOctober26,ChiefVigilance Commissioner KV Chowdary had said the vigilance commissionhadunanimouslyapproved the decision to elevate Asthana.

NEW DELHI: