The Supreme Court (SC,) today, gave the verdict on Alok Verma’s petition against the Central Government. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice K.M. Joseph announced the verdict.
The SC reinstated Alok Verma as the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and dismissed the Government’s orders of removing Alok Verma as the CBI Director. The SC rested the final decision regarding the case upon the Selection Committee.The Selection Committee comprises Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, Ranjan Gogoi, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha (the Congress.)
The Committee will review the case and decide if Alok Verma should be removed from his position or not. The SC said, “The transfer of the director without the consent of the selection committee negates the legislative intent that is to ensure independence of CBI.” The Court further added, “Within a week, the selection committee, led by the PM, will meet and look into the aspect of whether Verma needs to be removed or not.”
However, the Court restricted Alok Verma from taking any major policy decisions of the CBI and asked him to make decisions only regarding the day to day administrative activities.
Alok Verma was sent on compulsory leave on the 24th of October, 2018, following which, he filed the petition against the Central Government. The order to remove Alok Verma came overnight after a rift between Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana, the former CBI Special Director.
The dispute started when Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana accused each other of bribery and corruption.
Political leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Mehbooba Mufti and Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter and welcomed the judgement given by the SC and slammed the Government of India.
Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir.Reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars. Time for the Central gov to stop misusing its influence to arm twist investigative agencies like NIA & CBI for political vendetta.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 8, 2019
SC reinstating CBI director Alok Verma is a direct indictment of the PM. Modi govt has ruined all institutions and democracy in our country. Wasn’t CBI director illegally removed at midnight to stall the probe in Rafale scam which directly leads to PM himself?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2019
