APPOINTMENT OF CBI DIRECTOR

Subject: Governance

Context: Gujarat cadre IPS officer Praveen Sinha, currently Additional Director of the CBI, was appointed as its interim chief.

Concept:

The Centre has initiated the process of new appointment. It has drawn a panel of eligible officers belonging to 1984 to 1986 batches.

Director of CBI

Director, CBI as Inspector General of Police, Delhi Special Police Establishment, is responsible for the administration of the organization.
Till 2014, the CBI Director was appointed on the basis of the DSPE Act, 1946.
In 2003, DSPE Act was revised on Supreme Court’s recommendation in the Vineet Narain case.
A committee that had members from Central Vigilance Commission, Secretaries from Home Ministry, Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances would send recommendations to Central Government for the appointment of CBI Director.
In 2014, the Lokpal Act provided a committee for appointment of CBI Director:
Headed by Prime Minister
Other members – Leader of Opposition/ Leader of the single largest opposition party, Chief Justice of India/ a Supreme Court Judge.
Home Ministry sends a list of eligible candidates to DoPT. Then, the DoPT prepares the final list on basis of seniority, integrity, and experience in the investigation of anti-corruption cases, and sends it to the committee.
Director of CBI has been provided security of two year tenure, by the CVC Act, 2003.