JOIN USThe Centre on Monday defended its decision to appoint Tamil Nadu cadre IPS officer as the CBI’s additional director, though the Supreme Court raised questions over her joining the investigating agency without being relieved by the state government.
A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice R M Lodha took note of the submission of the Tamil Nadu government that it was not consulted before Archana Ramasundaram’s appointment to justify its restraint order, passed earlier, on her discharging the duty.
“How did she join without being relieved by Tamil Nadu. This is the further flaw in the appointment brought out to us by the state. She cannot join without being permitted. If the state government has not given permission, then her joining is meaningless,” the bench said.
The court’s observations came after senior advocate Shekhar Naphade pointed out the procedural anomaly in the appointment.
Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi, however, submitted that she should be allowed to discharge her duty as “keeping her idle” would not serve any purpose. Ramasundaram is the first woman additional director of the premier investigating agency.
Senior advocate Amrendra Sharan, appearing for the CBI, also sought to justify her appointment to the post.
The bench, however, adjourned the PIL filed by social activist and journalist Vineet Narain raising questions over her appointment, for July 21 and asked all the parties to file their replies and all the relevant documents.