MHA, DoPT give nod for CBI chief Ranjit Sinha's name for Interpol Secretary General

NEW DELHI: Union Home Ministry and Personnel Department have given their nod to External Affairs Ministry supporting the candidature of CBI Director Ranjit Sinha for the post of Interpol Secretary General, the first Indian to be shortlisted for the coveted job.

The External Affairs Ministry had sought views of Home Ministry, cadre controlling authority of IPS officers, and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which has administrative control over the probe agency.

The replies from both the departments were in affirmative for Sinha, who will have to appear before the Executive Committee of the Interpol on June 17 at Lyon in France where the Interpol headquarters is located, sources said today.

61-year-old Sinha, the country's senior most IPS officer belonging to 1974 batch, was shortlisted along with three candidates from Europe, one each from Africa and the US.

The selected candidates will have to appear before an Executive Committee comprising representatives of the US, Canada, Chile, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, Algeria, Rwanda and Qatar and headed by Mireille Ballestrazzi of France.

In case there is no consensus in the Executive Committee, the name of all the five will go to 190-member General Assembly where the next Secretary General will be elected by voting.

According to the Interpol, the appointment of Secretary General shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Assembly for a period of five years.

The candidate can be re-appointed for other terms but must lay down office on reaching the age of 65 although he may be allowed to complete his term of office on reaching this age.

The third term of current Secretary General Ronald K Noble, who has been holding the post since 2000, ends next year.