CBI should be made more independent, says HC

Judges direct Centre to consider enacting a separate Act giving statutory status to the agency

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday observed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be made more independent like the Election Commission of India and Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Taking into account the enormous faith and trust people had in CBI, the premier investigative agency, a Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and B. Pugalendhi passed a series of directions and said that the order was an attempt to release the ‘caged parrot’. The court directed the Union government to consider and take a decision for enactment of a separate Act giving statutory status with more powers and jurisdiction to the CBI at the earliest. Separate budgetary allocation shall be made for the CBI, the judges said.