Appointment of CBI Director

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
• Functions of CBI
• Appointment of CBI Director

Why in News?

• Karnataka Director General of Police Praveen Sood will be the next CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) Director.

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About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

• The establishment of the CBI was recommended by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of Corruption (1962–1964).
• It is not a statutory body as it was set up by a resolution (1963) of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It derives its powers from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
• The CBI is the main investigating agency of the Central Government.
  • It plays an important role in the prevention of corruption and maintaining integrity in administration. It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.
  • It is also the nodal police agency in India which coordinates investigation on behalf of Interpol member countries.
• Motto: Industry, Impartiality and Integrity
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Functions of CBI

• Investigating cases of corruption, bribery and misconduct of Central government employees.
• Investigating cases relating to infringement of fiscal and economic laws, that is, breach of laws concerning export and import control, customs and central excise, income tax, foreign exchange regulations and so on.
  • However, such cases are taken up either in consultation with or at the request of the department concerned.
• Investigating serious crimes, having national and international ramifications, committed by organised gangs of professional criminals.
• Coordinating the activities of the anticorruption agencies and the various state police forces.
• Taking up, on the request of a state government, any case of public importance for investigation.
• Maintaining crime statistics and disseminating criminal information.

Appointment of CBI Director

• The CBI is headed by a director. He is assisted by a special/additional director.
• The Central Government appoints the Director on the recommendation of a three-member committee, comprising of –
  • Prime Minister as Chairman,
  • Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,
  • Chief Justice of India
• When there is no recognized Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, then the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha would be a member of that committee.
• The Director of CBI has been provided security of two-year tenure in office by the Chief Vigilance Commission Act, 2003.

Q1) What is the role of Central Vigilance Commission?

The CVC receives complaints on corruption or misuse of office and recommends appropriate action.

Q2) How many seats required to become Opposition leader?

A single party has to meet the 10% seat criterion, not an alliance. Many of the Indian state legislatures also follow this 10% rule while the rest of them prefer single largest opposition party according to the rules of their respective houses.

Source: Karnataka DGP to be the next CBI Director, overtaking others