'Centre Owes An Apology': BJP, Opposition's War Of Words Over SC Order On ED Chief’s Tenure Extension

"This is a big setback for the government. The motive to give an extension has been questioned by the SC verdict," AAP Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said.

New Delhi: A war of words erupted between Opposition parties and BJP after the Supreme Court termed the tenure extension of ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra as illegal.

AAP Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the verdict is a big setback for the Centre. "This is a big setback for the government. The motive to give an extension has been questioned by the SC verdict," Bhardwaj told ANI.

RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha said that the Centre owes an apology for the extension of the tenure of the ED Director. "If you read the text, sub-text and the message from honourable Supreme Court, it is very categorical and clear. It puts the government in the dock. I don't know how the government would react. The first thing that they owe is an apology."

Notably, the Centre, last year in November, issued orders to extend the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director SK Mishra for a period of one year, for the third time, and again, one day before his retirement. This was his fifth year as the ED Director. 

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Opposition parties for hailing the court's order. "Those rejoicing over the Hon'ble SC decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons," he tweeted.

Reacting to the verdict, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that this is a big win of "justice and truth."

"We have always said that PM has misused agencies like ED against political opponents. The way ED harassed the opposition, democracy has weakened. All this has been proved today," he added.

The Supreme Court on Monday said that the extension of tenure of ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra is illegal, but he will continue to serve the post till July 31, 2023.

Notably, the Centre in February defended its decision to extend the tenure of the director of the Enforcement Directorate and urged the top court to dismiss the plea challenging the decision saying that the petition is motivated. The central government made its submission on an affidavit filed countering the submission of the petition challenging the extension of the ED director. 

The Centre told the Supreme Court that the petition challenging the decision to extend the ED director’s tenure lacked merit and asked the apex court to dismiss the petition. The Centre also informed the top court that the petition was “clearly motivated by an oblique personal interest rather than any public interest litigation,” the report added. 

Opposition parties have earlier expressed disappointment over the extension given to Mishra accusing the government of misusing the federal agencies and harassing the political leaders and civil society members.