New Delhi:
The government has strongly defended its right to decide whether to allow the questioning of its officers in corruption cases like the coal allocation scam.
During arguments today, the government opposed the Supreme Court's view that in court-monitored probes like 'Coal-gate', the CBI does not need the Centre's approval to examine officers.
To make the process more transparent, the government suggested, a panel comprising the cabinet secretary and top vigilance officer should decide on sanctioning probes.
"A Supreme Court judgement protects judges from inquiry, so this principle applies to civil servants," said Attorney General Goolam Vanhanvati.
The court countered: "Why are you comparing civil servants to judges? Court judgements never said so?"
This comes amid a huge controversy over a report that a CBI officer wanted to examine the Prime Minister in the coal probe but was overruled by the agency's director, who said it was unnecessary at this stage.
The CBI - which was earlier compared by the Supreme Court to a 'caged parrot' dancing to the tune of its political masters - today reiterated that there is no need to take the government's permission in the coal scam.
The main petitioner in the coal probe case, ML Sharma, told the court that the CBI had not named Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was in charge of the coal ministry between 2006 and 2009, and current coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in their FIR, or police complaint.
The court responded, "The CBI investigation is not yet closed. It is trying to unearth the truth. Today we are concerned only with the sanction issue."
The CBI told the court that it would need at least three more officers to investigate the coal scam. This comes days after the top court pulled up both the government and the CBI for the slow pace of the probe.
During arguments today, the government opposed the Supreme Court's view that in court-monitored probes like 'Coal-gate', the CBI does not need the Centre's approval to examine officers.
To make the process more transparent, the government suggested, a panel comprising the cabinet secretary and top vigilance officer should decide on sanctioning probes.
"A Supreme Court judgement protects judges from inquiry, so this principle applies to civil servants," said Attorney General Goolam Vanhanvati.
The court countered: "Why are you comparing civil servants to judges? Court judgements never said so?"
This comes amid a huge controversy over a report that a CBI officer wanted to examine the Prime Minister in the coal probe but was overruled by the agency's director, who said it was unnecessary at this stage.
The CBI - which was earlier compared by the Supreme Court to a 'caged parrot' dancing to the tune of its political masters - today reiterated that there is no need to take the government's permission in the coal scam.
The main petitioner in the coal probe case, ML Sharma, told the court that the CBI had not named Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was in charge of the coal ministry between 2006 and 2009, and current coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal in their FIR, or police complaint.
The court responded, "The CBI investigation is not yet closed. It is trying to unearth the truth. Today we are concerned only with the sanction issue."
The CBI told the court that it would need at least three more officers to investigate the coal scam. This comes days after the top court pulled up both the government and the CBI for the slow pace of the probe.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
