Cabinet accepts Proposals on CBI Autonomy

The Union Cabinet finally acted on the Supreme Court’s direction and accepted the recommendations of a GoM on the CBI autonomy to make the investigating body free from the government’s influence.

As per the recommendation, there will be a collegium system to appoint the agency’s director and set up an oversight panel for the impartial investigation. The proposed collegium will comprise the Prime Minister, the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. The oversight panel will comprise three retired judges. It will act as a referee.

The significant move came after the apex court came down heavily on the CBI over a report on the Coalgate scam terming the agency as the “caged parrot” of the government. The present recommendation will be the part of the government’s response to the court that will be filed on July 16.

The court had directed the government to make the CBI free from its control. The court’s reaction came after it was revealed that the CBI report on Coalgate scam was shared with former law minister Ashwani Kumar, the coal ministry and PMO officials.