Chief Justice Cited Rule That Eliminated Government Choices For CBI Chief: Sources

Justice Ramana referred to a Supreme Court judgement that had said officers with less than six months left in service should not be considered for police chief posts.

At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last evening to select the new chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Justice of India NV Ramana reportedly emphasised a rule that eliminated at least two key candidates shortlisted by the government, sources say. After a 90-minute meeting, the high-powered selection panel of PM Modi, the Chief Justice and opposition leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury zeroed in on three names - former Maharashtra Director General Of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, Director General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) KR Chandra and Home Ministry Special Secretary VSK Kaumudi. Sources say during the discussions Chief Justice Ramana raised a "six-month rule" that has never been cited before in the selection of a CBI director. Justice Ramana referred to a Supreme Court judgement that had said officers with less than six months left in service should not be considered for police chief posts.