The Supreme Court today said that even 15 years after it gave a judgement in the Vineet Narain case to insulate probe agencies from external influences, the issue is "really more serious" as CBI is still not out of control of political and executive bosses.
"Fifteen years on (after Vineet Narain) we are in bad position. There is complete breach of what Vineet Narain said. In first place, we have to liberate CBI from external influence so that we can completely take pride in CBI investigation," a three judge-bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said.
"We have to insulate CBI from political and any other type of interference. We have to undertake this exercise so that this premier organisation restores its position of impartiality," it said.
Though the minister concerned has the power to call for information generally regarding the cases being handled by the agencies, the authority is "subject to the condition that none of them would permit the minister to interfere with the course of investigation and prosecution in any individual case," it said while referring to relevant portion of the judgement.
"This (judgement) is being getting misconstrued vis-a-vis investigation. Will it not reconcile with the investigation and with the functioning of the government. Can in that situation, the minister have the power to give direction to the agencies?
"Will it not frustrate the independence of the investigation? CBI has to be impartial, free from extraneous consideration and sources and political influence," the bench said.
