Supreme Court agrees to hear plea challenging Nageswara Rao's appointment as interim CBI director

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea challenging M Nageswara Rao's appointment as interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 10. The petition filed by NGO Common Cause also seeks transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director. Last week, Rao, who in December was promoted to the rank of Additional Director, was handed over the charge of CBI interim chief till the appointment of a new director. The development came after a high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Alok Kumar Verma as CBI chief on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty.

"Supreme Court agrees to hear next week a plea filed against M Nageswara Rao's appointment as interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), plea also sought transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director," the news agency ANI reported.

Supreme Court agrees to hear next week a plea filed against M Nageswara Rao’s appointment as interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), plea also sought transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director. pic.twitter.com/v0cfM2BG49

— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2019

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The matter is scheduled for hearing next week as it was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Common Cause and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, appealed to the bench, also comprising Justices NL Rao and SK Kaul, to hear the plea this Friday. The CJI told Bhushan that it was "definitely not possible" to hear the matter on Friday and the plea would be heard next week.

The petition, filed by NGO Common Cause and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, has sought to lay down of specific mechanisms to ensure transparency in the process of appointment of CBI director.

The NGO alleged that Rao's appointment was not made on the basis of recommendations of the high-powered selection committee, comprising the prime minister, the leader of the single largest opposition party and the chief justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him.

On October 23, 2018, the CVC and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) first divested Verma of his powers and further asked Rao to look after the duties and functions of the agency's Director.

Read | Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge writes to PM Modi to come clean on CBI chief Alok Verma's removal

Post that, the top court had on January 8 allowed Verma to return as the CBI director, albeit with his wings clipped, by setting aside the Centre and the CVC's orders divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave. Two days after, an order was issued by the government removing Verma as the CBI director for the second time.

(With inputs from agencies)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The petition was filed by NGO Common Cause and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj.
• M Nageswara Rao was handed over the charge of CBI interim chief. 
• The matter is scheduled for hearing next week before a CJI's bench.