SC questions haste in action against CBI chief

NEW DELHI: The Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, on Thursday questioned the government’s sudden move to send Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Verma on leave.

Verma and his deputy CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana were divested of his responsibilities on the night of Oct.23, despite being told by the Attorney General that circumstances culminating in the decision began months before in July.

The bench of Gogoi and Justices K M Joseph and S K Kaul on Thursday sought to know why the government failed to consult a larger panel before taking action against the CBI officers. The court said the government’s decisions should be taken in the interest of the institution.

The bench reserved its judgment on petitions iled By VERMA AND NGO Common Cause challenging the government order.

Verma and Asthana were levelling corruption charges against each other AND were IGHTING In public. Attorney General KK Venugopal had told the JUDGES that they were IGHTING like Cats and such “extraordinary circumstances” forced the government to act.

“The government of India was watching with amazement as to what THESE two oficers were DOING, they were IGHTING like Kilkenny Cats...

Extraordinary situation made centre act and divest Alok Verma of his powers till the Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC) takes a decision,” Venugopal said.

“If you had tolerated since July, it is not something that required immediate action as the circumstances were culminating for a long time,” Gogoi told the CVC, on whose recommendation the centre put out the order and stripped CBI chief Alok Verma of his powers.

“Extraordinary situations need extraordinary remedies,” the vigilance body replied. “The Central Vigilance Commission’s superintendence (over CBI) encompasses ‘surprise, extraordinary situations’,” it added.

“Situations may arise which is not provided in law and authority has to address surprise situations. The CVC will become toothless if it doesn’t act.” Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, on behalf of Common Cause, argued that the CVC does not have the power to remove the CBI Director. “Its powers are limited to cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.