Kharge moves SC against order relieving CBI chief

Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, a member of the Selection Committee for the CBI Director, moved a petition before the Supreme Court on Saturday saying the decision to divest CBI Director Alok Verma “of his statutory powers is completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive and without jurisdiction.”Congress leader in the Lok Sabha highlights the ‘brazen and illegal actions’

Mr. Kharge sought that the October 23 orders of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) be either quashed or set aside.

The Supreme Court is already hearing a petition by Mr. Verma, challenging the government’s decision to send him on forced leave. The next hearing on the petition is on November 12.

‘In national interest’

Mr. Kharge’s petition mentions that he was “constrained to move the application in overwhelming national and public interest to protect and maintain the institutional sanctity and integrity of India’s premier investigating agency, the CBI or the Central Bureau of Investigation.”

The petition, vetted by former Law Minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal, says: “As a concerned stakeholder, he brings to the attention of the court the brazen and illegal actions of the political executive in interfering with the independent functioning of the CBI Director.”

Members of panel

Mr. Kharge, as the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, is a member of the Selection Committee that is headed by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Justice of India.

“The entire action of the CVC, vide its order of October 23, and the DoPT, vide order October 23, seeking to divest CBI director Alok Verma of his statutory powers and functions is completely illegal, arbitrary, punitive and without jurisdiction...,” the petition said.