CBI may request SC for review of selection procedure for senior-level appointments in CBI

NEW DELHI: CBI will soon submit a request to the Supreme Court to review the selection procedure for senior-level appointments in the probe agency in its response to a notice in a case relating to a woman IPS officer being picked as its Additional Director.

"We will be submitting our reply soon in response to a petition filed before the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of one lady IPS officer as Additional Director," CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said here.

CBI was made a party by the Supreme Court in response to a PIL filed by journalist Vineet Narain who claimed the selection process of the Additional Director had been vitiated with the government appointing Archana Ramasundaram, a 1980 IPS batch officer of Tamil Nadu cadre, as Additional Director in the agency.

However, CBI may mention in its petition that all clauses laid down by the Supreme Court, including seniority and integrity clause, were followed in appointing Ramasundaram.

The CBI Director said the larger picture was about the selection procedure. "The views of a captain for selection of his team should at least be taken," Sinha said.

"The main legal issues involved is constitution of CVC Board for appointments in CBI and the role of the Director," he said.

CBI would request the Supreme Court to review the selection procedure for officers at Additional Director and Special Director level in the agency. The CBI Director is only a special invitee in these appointments and his observations are not recorded.

Ramasundaram, who joined CBI on May eight, has been restrained by the Supreme Court from carrying out the functions of Additional Director until July 14 when the apex court hears the matter again.