The said rule disqualified Rakesh Asthana, the Border Security Force chief retiring on August 31, and National Investigation Agency chief YC Modi.
According to sources, Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last evening to select the new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), emphasised a rule that eliminated at least two key candidates shortlisted by the government.
The high-powered selection panel of PM Modi, the Chief Justice and opposition leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, after almost 90 minute meeting, zeroed in on three names – former Maharashtra Director General Of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) KR Chandra and Home Ministry Special Secretary VSK Kaumudi.
During the discussions, as per sources, Chief Justice Ramana raised a “six-month rule” that has never been cited before in the selection of a CBI Director.
The Chief Justice of India referred to a Supreme Court judgement that had said officers with less than six months left in service should not be considered for police chief posts. The CJI stressed that the selection panel must comply with the law, sources said.
On the panel as the leader of the largest opposition party Congress, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury backed the rule, giving it majority support in the three-member committee.
The said rule disqualified Rakesh Asthana, the Border Security Force chief retiring on August 31, and National Investigation Agency chief YC Modi, retiring on May 31- the two names that were seen to be the frontrunners in the government’s shortlist.
Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, the chief of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the senior most of the three names unanimously chosen by the panel, is now the frontrunner for the CBI top job.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
