CBI vs CBI: CJI opts out of selection committee panel to decide on reinstated Alok Verma's fate

The Chief Justice of India opted out of the high powered selection committee panel formed to discuss on the case of reinstated CBI director Alok Verma.

New Delhi: Central Bureau of Investigation Chief Alok Verma arrives at Supreme Court in connection Manipur fake encounter case, in New Delhi, on Monday, July 30, 2018. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) (PTI7_30_2018_000133A)

New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India opted out of the high powered selection committee panel formed to discuss on the case of reinstated CBI director Alok Verma. The selection committee comprising of PM Modi, CJI and and leader of largest opposition party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to meet later in the evening on Wednesday. Senior Supreme Court judge, Justice AK Sikri will be part of the selection committee in place of the chief justice Ranjan Gogoi, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The Centre had sent Verma on forced leave for 77 days in an unprecedented late-night order on 23 October, 2018. In its order on Tuesday, the Supreme Court had restrained Verma from making any major policy decision till the Central Vigilance Commission completes its investigation into the corruption charges against him. Justice SK Kaul, who had pronounced the judgement for CJI Gogoi, had said that the high-powered Selection Committee is to meet within seven days and decide on Verma's fate. The Supreme Court had on Tuesday conditionally reinstated Verma as the CBI chief a day earlier, months after the government divested him of the duties of the director following an internal feud with his deputy Rakesh Asthana in the agency.