Judges Need To Stop Probe Agencies From Acting As BJP Govt’s ‘Stooge’: Congress On CJI’s Remarks

The Congress leader alleged “absolute and total subjugation” of the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department, PTI reported.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala (File Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Congress Party on Saturday urged Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and his fellow judges to exercise their duty under the Constitution to stop the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department from acting as “political stooges” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said “speaking in strong language sitting in the Court alone is insufficient when the Constitution and rule of law are being trampled upon by those sitting in the citadels of power”.

The Congress leader alleged “absolute and total subjugation” of the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department, PTI reported.

“The truth, for CJI must understand and it is there for every citizen to see, is that CBI, ED and Income tax are stooges of the BJP and the Modi government to be unleashed against electoral opponents,” Surjewala told reporters here.

“That’s why CBI’s new name is ‘Captive Bureau of Investigation’ for BJP political settlement affairs,” he added.

The Congress leader alleged the “ED has become the ‘Election Department’ of the BJP and the IT has become a pliable toy in the hands of the government to be unleashed against its opponents”.

Continuing his outburst, Surjewala alleged that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP go to fight an election in any state then “the first to arrive there are the CBI, the ED and the Income Tax”.

“The Chief Justice and his companion judges of the Supreme Court will have to work further, exercise their duty under Article 136 of the Constitution and if necessary, put curbs and punish the CBI, ED and Income Tax,” he said.

The Congress chief spokesperson was reacting to Chief Justice of India Ramana’s remarks made earlier on Friday that police officers often complained of being harassed after regime change.

“Often police officers approach us that they are being harassed after change of regime and when regime changes consequences are suffered. First is to gain social legitimacy and that is by breaking the political executive nexus,” Bar and Bench quoted Chief Justice of India Ramana as saying while delivering the 19th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture of CBI on “Democracy: Role and Responsibilities of Investigative Agencies”.

The Chief Justice of India said the police reforms have been on the government’s agenda for more than 50 years and yet nothing has happened.

“Society has undergone dramatic changes since post-independence era. Policing system needs reform to be in tune with present day scenario,” he added.

Chief Justice of India Ramana said there needs to be a political will for democratic policing.

“The government reports have acknowledged that police now needs reforms with respect to infrastructure, our investigative agencies are still not guided by a common law,” Chief Justice of India Ramana said.

“As institutions we have to still gain social legitimacy. Police should work in crime prevention and see law and order is upheld,” he added.

The Chief Justice of India further said the judiciary used to be flooded with requests to transfer probe to the CBI due to its impartiality.

“But with the passage of time, like other institutions CBI has also come under deep oblique scrutiny,” he added.