Par panel recommends new law to define power, functions of CBI
Polity & Governance26 Mar 2023| A-AA+
In News
A parliamentary committee has said that an existing law governing the federal probe agency has “many limitations” and there is a need to enact a new legislation to define its status, functions and powers.
Major Findings
The Committee feels that the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act has many limitations and therefore, recommends that there is a need to enact a new law and define the status, functions and powers of the CBI and also lay down safeguards to ensure objectivity and impartiality in its functioning.
The panel said that vacant posts in the CBI are not being filled up at the required pace and recommended that “every effort should be made to fill up vacancies at the earliest.
The Committee is of the opinion that vacancies in the cadres of executive ranks, law officers and technical officers will unquestionably increase pendency of cases, hamper the quality of investigation and ultimately impact the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency.
The panel further recommended that the Director of CBI should monitor the progress made in filling up of vacancies on a quarterly basis and take necessary measures to ensure that the organisation is sufficiently staffed.
CBI should reduce its dependence on deputationists and strive to recruit permanent staff in the ranks of inspector of police and deputy superintendent of police.
CBI should maintain a case management system which would be a centralised database containing details of cases registered with it and the progress made at their disposal.
CBI should also publish case statistics and annual reports on its website to ensure transparency and accountability.
About CBI
The federal probe agency was established in 1963.
It is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, enacted to regulate the functioning of the special police establishment set up in 1941 to investigate cases of bribery and corruption involving purchases and supplies during World War II.
Currently, CBI functions under the Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances of the Government of India.
Functions
Investigating cases of corruption, bribery and misconduct of Central government employees under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Indian public officials, public sector undertakings, corporations, and bodies that are owned or controlled by the Indian government.
Investigating cases relating to infringement of fiscal and economic laws, that is, breach of laws concerning export and import control, customs and central excise, income tax foreign exchange regulations.
