Amid a furore and walkout by the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress members, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up for consideration the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014.
The Bill states that the CBI chief’s appointment cannot be held invalid in case of any vacancy or absence in the selection panel.
“No appointment of a Director shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy or absence of a member in the committee,” says the Bill, which comes ahead of the retirement of the present CBI director Ranjit Sinha on December 2.
Amid ruckus over black money, the Bill was introduced by Jitendra Singh, senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Shortly, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for a while.
However, once the House re-assembled at 2 pm, the Opposition was up in arms against the introduction of the Bill.
“Such Bill should not be taken up in a hurry. We will cooperate... if you insist. We are not going to be a party to this,” Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, leading a walkout by his party MPs, who were joined by TMC and SP members.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the Government is ready for a debate any time but discussion on it is necessary as it has to be passed on Wednesday so that a new director can be appointed before Sinha retires.
Under the existing norms, the CBI chief has to be appointed by the Centre on the basis of the recommendations of the selection committee.
The committee is headed by the Prime Minister, and comprises the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him, as members.
The Bill also seeks to include the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the panel that selects the CBI Director.