Meeting of collegium to decide new CBI chief remains inconclusive, to meet again

Official sources confirmed that the meeting was held but did not divulge any specifics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Reuters

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led-three member collegium met here on Monday evening to finalise the name of a full-time CBI Director but the suspense over the final selection continued till late in the night as the meeting remained inconclusive.

While the meeting concluded in the evening itself, the Government maintained a studied silence on whether a name was finalized for the top job or  not.

Sources, however,  said the collegium comprising Modi, Chief Justice JS Khehar and leader of the largest opposition party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, is likely to meet again later this week to select the new CBI chief.

Official sources confirmed that the meeting was held but did not divulge any specifics.

 "There were some differences and the three member panel failed to reach a consensus on the selection of the new CBI chief. They will meet again soon," a North Block official said.

The post of CBI director has been lying vacant for over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on December 2. Presently, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer of 1984-batch Rakesh Asthana is the acting director of the investigating agency in the absence of a full-fledged chief.

Besides, Modi, the collegium included Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Justice of India JS Khehar as its other members.

Out of a list of 43 IPS officers of 1979 to 1982 batches sent to the Government, a panel of seven names was shortlisted for consideration by the collegium, the sources said.  

The seven names include 1979-batch IPS officers Krishna Choudhary and Aruna Bahuguna and 1981-batch officer SC Mathur.

Other names shortlisted include SSB DG Archana Ramasundaram, Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Verma, NCRB Chief ARK Kini and Special Secretary (Internal Security) RK Dutta.

While Chaudhary is a Bihar cadre officer, Bahuguna is a Telangana cadre officer. Chaudhary is Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force while Bahuguna is Director of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. Mathur, a 1981 batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, is working with Maharashtra State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation Ltd.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com