Parliamentary panel recommends new law to define power, functions of CBI

A Parliamentary Committee said there is a need to enact a new legislation to define the CBI’s status, functions and powers.

Highlighting withdrawal of general consent for CBI probe by many States, a Parliamentary Committee has said that an existing law governing the federal probe agency has "many limitations" and there is a need to enact a new legislation to define its status, functions and powers.

The federal probe agency was established in 1963. It is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, enacted to regulate the functioning of the special police establishment set up in 1941 to investigate cases of bribery and corruption involving purchases and supplies during World War II.

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The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice said that according to the provisions of the DSPE Act, the consent of the State government is a prerequisite for any investigation by the CBI and as on date, nine States have withdrawn the general consent.

"The Committee feels that the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act has many limitations and therefore, recommends that there is a need to enact a new law and define the status, functions and powers of the CBI and also lay down safeguards to ensure objectivity and impartiality in its functioning," it said.

The panel said that vacant posts in the CBI are not being filled up at the required pace and recommended that "every effort should be made to fill up vacancies at the earliest".

A total of 1,709 posts are vacant in the CBI against its sanctioned strength of 7,295.