In his place, CJI Gogoi nominated his next senior-most judge Justice AK Sikri to deliberate on his behalf
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi will not participate in the meeting of the committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to determine the fate of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Alok Kumar Verma who faces allegations of corruption. In his place, CJI Gogoi nominated his next senior-most judge Justice AK Sikri to deliberate on his behalf. The committee, which also has Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Malikarjun Kharge as member, was expected to meet late Wednesday evening.
The order by Gogoi nominating Justice Sikri came a day after the Supreme Court restored Verma as CBI director with full powers. It set aside the government order of October 23 2018 divesting Verma of all powers and placed the allegations against him for consideration before the Selection Committee headed by the prime minister. The court even asked the committee to meet within a week.
The choice made by CJI to remain out of the deliberations involving Verma’s fate has been a conscious one, considering the fact that the CJI had himself headed the bench that heard Verma’s petition challenging the October 23 order. Verma had approached the apex court challenging the orders of the CVC and the Centre divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave.
The decision of the committee is crucial as it will decide whether Verma is to be stripped of his powers or be allowed to continue till his superannuation on January 31, 2019.
The bench also comprising justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph directed, “As the issue of divestment of power and authority of the director of CBI is still open for consideration by the committee and our interference with the impugned orders has been on the ground indicated above, we deem it proper to direct that the petitioner Alok Kumar Verma, upon reinstatement, will cease and desist from taking any major policy decisions till the decision of the Committee permitting such actions and decisions becomes available within the time frame indicated.”
CBI VS CBI
- Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana were divested of their powers in October last year.
- They were both sent on leave, overlooking immunity granted.
- The SC restored Verma but he can’t take any major policy decision.
- A panel will now determine the fate of Verma, who is due to retire on January 31
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