New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday moved two statutory resolutions in the Rajya Sabha objecting to the government’s move to extend the tenure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate(ED) chiefs from two years to five years.
The ordinances for the extension of tenures were signed by President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday. The ordinances promulgated by the Ministry of law and justice enable the union to extend the tenure of CBI and ED chief after completion of their two-year term by a year for three consecutive years.
The ordinances passed by the president make amendments in the Delhi Police Special Establishment Act and the Central Vigilance Act which are parent laws for the CBI and ED respectively.
The TMC had raised objections to the ordinances questioning the government’s hurry to pass the ordinance as the winter session of the parliament is only two weeks away.
“#Parliament Winter Session begins two weeks from now. Be rest assured, Opposition parties will do all it takes to stop India from turning into an elected autocracy,” tweeted TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien.
Earlier, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari had also questioned the government’s intentions for increasing the tenure.
“What is even more troublesome is recourse to Ordinance route to subvert the lawmaking function of Parliament repeatedly. Parliament is tentatively scheduled to meet on 29th November 2021. What was the tearing hurry to promulgate these ordinances on the cusp of Winter Session,” Tewari had tweeted.
According to PTI, more such notices are expected to be filed by other opposition parties in the upcoming winter session of the parliament which is likely to begin on November 29.