The Cabinet today deferred decision on a proposal for amendments in the Lokpal Act to include the leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha to be part of the three-member committee to select CBI Director.
The proposal to amend the Lokpal Act was taken up during the Cabinet meeting. It was decided to have further discussion on the matter, official sources said.
As per the Act, the selection of the CBI chief has to be done by a committee headed by the Prime Minister, and comprising the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him as members.
Present CBI Director Ranjit Sinha's tenure ends on December 2.
At present, there is no recognised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Congress with 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha has emerged as the second largest party after BJP's 282 but fell short by 11 to stake claim for the LoP for which it requires a minimum strength of 55.
Earlier, a CBI Director was being selected under the provision of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946.
As per the DSPE Act, the central government shall appoint the CBI Director on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the Central Vigilance Commissioner as Chairperson and Vigilance Commissioners, Home Secretary and Secretary (Co-ordination and Public Grievances the Cabinet Secretariat) as members.
However, after the enactment of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act in January this year, the provisions of the DSPE Act were changed including the requirement of consultation with the outgoing CBI Director in the selection process.
