A bill to amend the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was passed in the Lok Sabha. (File photo of the CBI building in Delhi)
A bill to amend the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was passed in the Lok Sabha today. It seeks to include the leader of the single largest opposition party as a member of the selection committee to choose the chief of the country's premier investigation agency, the CBI.
The committee will be called upon to make a selection soon - the current CBI director Ranjit Sinha's term ends on December 2.
A subtle change was required in the law as the current Lok Sabha does not have a recognized leader of opposition - the Congress which is the single largest opposition party won only 44 seats in this year's national elections and so does not qualify to get the Leader of Opposition post. The post goes to a party that has at least 10 per cent of the house's strength, which is 55 MPs.
The Congress has objected to another clause introduced in the bill which provides that the selection of the CBI chief will not require all three members of the selection panel to be present for the process - only two of the three can choose the CBI chief.
The committee that selects the CBI chief comprises the prime minister, the Chief justice of India or his nominee and the Leader of the Opposition, or, once the Act is amended, the leader of the single largest opposition party.
The government has argued that this clause is required as the selection of the CBI chief cannot be held in abeyance if one of the three members of the panel is not available for some reason.
The bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
The enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act - also known as the Lokpal Act - earlier this year has automatically amended the police establishment or DPSE Act to make changes in the selection panel. Before the Lokpal Act amended the DSPE Act, a committee headed by the Central Vigilance Commissioner used to recommend names for CBI director.