November 11: PM addressing a conference of senior CBI officers
With his government engulfed with charges of corruption in how coal fields were allocated to private players, the Prime Minister today cautioned the CBI, which is investigating "Coal-Gate" that policy-making is complex and that it would not "be appropriate for a police agency to sit in judgement over policy formulation, without evidence of malafide." (
Read full text of the PM's speech)
The CBI has found that coal blocks were given without transparency to companies that were often ineligible for mining rights. Because the PM held direct charge for some of the years under scrutiny, the opposition has demanded his resignation.
The PM, who has said he is willing to answer any questions by the CBI, said today that is important "that errors of judgement are distinguished from criminal acts." He also warned against equating decisions "taken with no ill-intention within the prevailing policy as criminal misconduct."
The Prime Minister was addressing a conference of senior CBI officers. He did not refer directly to "Coal-Gate", but said it is distressing that "sensitive investigations are increasingly becoming subjects of running media commentary" with confidential information being leaked to the press.
Dr Singh also assured the conference that, "Some questions have come up recently about the legality of the CBI. Our Government will look into this seriously and promptly."
Last week, the Guahati High Court ruled that the CBI is unconstitutional because the resolution under which the agency was created in 1964 is not legal. (
Read full text of the order here)
That verdict has been stayed by the Supreme Court which is now hearing the case. (
Read: Supreme Court stays Gauhati HighCourt's order)