New Delhi:
On a day when the Supreme Court observed that the Central Vigilance Commission or CVC supervises the CBI, Attorney General GE Vahanvati has said that it is the Central government which is the final authority in deciding whether to give the probe agency permission to conduct a direct investigation against a senior official.
According to Mr Vahanvati, the Centre's approval is required for the CBI to open a direct inquiry against an official on the joint secretary level; for lower designations, the CVC can direct the CBI.
The CVC had earlier disagreed with the Law Ministry's opinion that the former was not the deciding authority for a direct inquiry, and had asked for the Attorney General's opinion, who now has now ruled in favour of the government.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked why the CBI should need the government's sanction to prosecute officials and public servants, saying, "The supervision of the CBI is entrusted with the CVC. The Centre has no role. How can the CBI say government permission is needed for sanction? We need to discuss this."