'Illegal': Supreme Court Rejects Extension Of Tenure Of ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra

Supreme Court has termed the extension of tenure of ED Directo Sanjay Kumar Mishra 'illegal'.

SC holds ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's extension 'illegal'.

Source : Getty | PTI

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, reported ANI. 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, reported news agency ANI. 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. 

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. 

The extension order read, "The Appointement Committee of teh Cabinet has approved extension in tenure of Shri Sanjay Kumar Mishra as Director of Enforcement in the Enforcement Directorate for a period of one year beyond 18.11.2022 i.e upto 18.11.2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier."

In a similar order in 2021, the government has extended the tenure of Mishra as the ED Director. 

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.

SK Mishra joined as ED chief on November 19, 2018 for two year fixed tenure. Then, in November last year, he got first extension for one year.