New Delhi | Adding an angle on the termination of Alok Verma as the CBI Director by the select committee, former Supreme Court Judge Markandey Katju has stated that Justice Sikri, one of the members of the Select Committee believed that until the investigation on Alok Verma’s guilt or innocence is completed, he should not remain on the post.
Katju in a Facebook post wrote the opinion of Justice Sikri on the removal of Alok Verma. Justice Sikri in a telephonic conversation responding to the question of why Alok Verma was not given a hearing by the committee said,” The CVC had recorded prima facie findings of guilt on some serious charges against Verma on the material before it”.”The CVC had given a hearing to Verma before recording its prima facie findings,” he added. Justice Sikri further claimed that it is a settled principle that even suspension can be done without giving the accused a hearing, and suspensions pending enquiry are very common. It is only dismissal which cannot be done without a hearing.
Katju further wrote that based on the serious prima facie findings of guilt, Justice Sikri was of the opinion that until the matter was fully investigated and a final decision given about the guilt or innocence of Verma he should not remain on the post of Director, CBI but should be shifted to another post equivalent in rank. Justice Sikri also clarified that Alok Verma’s service is not been terminated, nor he is been suspended. Verma is only transferred retaining his salary and perks.
CBI director Alok Verma on Thursday after a marathon meeting of the Select committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed from the high-profile post on the charges of corruption and dereliction of duty making him the first chief in the history of the agency to face such action.
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