Cabinet likely to discuss CBI autonomy tomorrow

The government is likely to take a view tomorrow on the suggestions made by the Group of Ministers which was constituted to suggest measures for the independence and functional autonomy of CBI.

The Group of Ministers is belived to have recommended constitution of a panel of retired judges which would monitor the investigations undertaken by the agency to ensure that these probe remain free from any influence.

Official sources said the provisions may be not be in accordance with the provisions of the CrPC as an investigating officer reports only to court and no one else could interfere in its investigations.

However, former CBI Director Joginder Singh called the setting of retired judges' panel as a welcome step and said it should be implemented at the state-level as well.

He cited example of Uttar Pradesh government which wanted to withdraw charges of terrorism against minority youths but was stopped by the respective courts.

Another important recommendation made by the GoM relates to increase in the financial powers of the CBI director.

The sources said the CBI director needs more financial poweers as at present they are dependent on bureaucrats for sanction of funds, however small they might be.

The Group of Ministers chaired by Finance Minister P Chidambaram and comprising Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy had concluded its deliberations on Monday.

Its recommendations would be placed before the Cabinet tomorrow which will take a view on these.