Lok Sabha Passes Bill To Extend Tenures Of CBI, ED Directors. Opposition Slams Move

Two bills, Delhi Special Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 and Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, were passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday

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New Delhi: Two bills, Delhi Special Police (Amendment) Bill 2021 and Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, were passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to extend the tenures of directors of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) up to 5 years, reported PTI.  

The opposition, however, slammed the move saying that it will “rob the investigative agencies of their autonomy.” 

The two bills were passed by voice vote in the lower house of the Parliament. The amendments moved by the opposition were rejected. The opposition members contended that this move would make the two investigative agencies “subordinate” to the government.

Minister of Personnel Jitendra Singh in his reply to a debate said that the fixed tenure for the head of investigative agencies would help in speedy disposal of cases and reduce pendency. 

Singh clarified that the term of the head of CBI and ED was not extended but fixed for a maximum of five years and a minimum of two years, to ensure that the position is not misused.

"There will be continuity, stability. Certain information which is confidential with the head of an investigation agency will remain with him till the conclusion of the cases. This is going to address this (pendency of cases) issue," he said. 

Singh cited that it was necessary to make changes in the two laws to meet global standards. “The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suggested that some of the countries should look into upgrading their capabilities, and law enforcement authorities maintain high professional standards,” he said. 

Responding to the opposition’s charge that this move will reduce transparency, Singh said that the CBI director is appointed by a high-level committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition (or leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha), and the Chief Justice of India.

The opposition however termed the move as “arbitrary” and “without any logic.” 

Congress member Manish Tewari said: “Any democracy is as strong or as weak as the institutions that support it... Unfortunately, over the last seven-and-half years, this government has made every attempt to dismantle the system of checks and balances which are intrinsic to our constitutional scheme." 

Whereas Supriya Sule of the NCP raised concerns and said: “We have taken one small step to address all these issues and we will be taking more and expect support on those also."