New CBI director: PM Modi, CJI DY Chandrachud and Mallikarjun Kharge to take a call
2 min read . Updated: 13 May 2023, 01:53 PM IST
PremiumThe tenure of the CBI director is limited to a fixed two-year term but can be extended for up to five years.
The high-level committee responsible for selecting the next director of India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to meet on May 13 evening. The committee, which is composed of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, may either select a new director or extend the tenure of the incumbent, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal. Jaiswal, a former commissioner of the Mumbai Police, assumed the post of CBI director on May 26, 2021.
The CBI is the premier investigative agency of the Indian government, responsible for tackling high-profile cases such as corruption, economic offences, and terrorism. The CBI director plays a crucial role in managing the organisation's affairs and ensuring its independence.
The selection process for the CBI director is highly competitive, and the position is one of the most sought-after postings in India's civil service.
The tenure of the CBI director is limited to a fixed two-year term, which can be extended up to a maximum of five years. An amendment made to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act and CVC Act in 2021 enables the extension of the director's term by up to three years, one year at a time, in "public interest".
The government has invited the leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, the single largest opposition group in the House, to take part in selection committee meetings to pick the CBI director, as the post of Leader of Opposition remains vacant. While an extension for the current CBI director cannot be ruled out, the selection committee must approve the extension.
A senior bureaucrat has stated that the selection panel will need to review a shortlist of all eligible officers from the top three batches, based on criteria such as seniority, integrity, and past experience, if Jaiswal is not selected. If Jaiswal is in the running, eligible officers from the 1986 and 1987 batches will be considered as well.
The meeting, which is set to take place at 5 pm on May 13, coincides with the counting in Karnataka earlier in the day. According to sources by The Times of India, the panel will decide whether to select a new director or extend Jaiswal's tenure during the meeting.
(With agency inputs)