scorecardresearch
Friday, April 26, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeIndiaGovernanceJustice A.K. Sikri to replace CJI on PM-led panel deciding CBI chief...

Justice A.K. Sikri to replace CJI on PM-led panel deciding CBI chief Alok Verma’s fate

Follow Us :
Text Size:

The panel is scheduled to meet at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Wednesday night.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has nominated Justice A K Sikri, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court after him, to be part of the high-powered selection committee which will decide the fate of CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma.

The apex court sources said that Justice Sikri will be a part of the committee also comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

The selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, the CJI and the leader of the single largest opposition party.

Since the CJI was a part of the bench and author of the Tuesday’s verdict which reinstated Verma as the CBI Director, he opted himself out of the panel’s meeting which was ordered to be convened within a week.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the prime minister’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, officials have said.

Verma’s two-year tenure as CBI director ends on January 31.

The apex court had on Tuesday allowed Verma to come back as CBI Director, albeit with his wings clipped, giving a jolt to the Centre and the CVC by setting aside their orders divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave.

The court quashed the government’s unprecedented “overnight” order over two months ago, stripping him of his powers and sending him on leave after he and his deputy Rakesh Asthana traded corruption charges sparking a bitter feud.

However, the sword “of divestment of power and authority” of Verma is still hanging on his head as the court had said it was “still open” for the high-powered committee, which selects the CBI chief, to consider the matter within a week since the CVC is probing the charges of corruption against him.

In pursuance of the court’s directive, authorities have decided to convene the meeting of the selection panel on Wednesday.

The top court, in its verdict, had also made it clear that on reinstatement, Verma will cease and desist from taking any major policy decisions till the committee’s decision.

The entire issue of Verma revolved around his feud with CBI’s special director Rakesh Asthana as both of them have levelled charges of corruption against each other.

While Verma had moved the apex court against the government’s orders, Asthana has not sought any relief from the top court but has moved the Delhi High Court for quashing of FIR against him in a corruption case.

Asthana was also divested of his powers and was send on leave by the government. Verma, meanwhile, joined the office following the court’s order on Wednesday. – PTI

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

1 COMMENT

  1. No doubt. Even if Congress come to power, things will be the same. Can anyone get reply of Congress on the foreign funds received by political parties ?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular