CBI vs CBI: SC asks govt why Alok Verma was divested of powers without consulting Selection Committee

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi on Thursday came down heavily on the Central government on the issue of CBI power struggle and said that difference between the two warring officers did not emerge overnight. 

The court also questioned the government's hasty act to divest the CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers.

''Why the government acted hastily to divest the CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers without consulting the Selection Committee?'' the CJI asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Vigilance Commission.

Gogoi was hearing Alok Verma's plea against government's decision to send him on leave. 

Gogoi told CVC that the government has to be fair and added that what was the difficulty in consulting the selection committee before divesting Alok Verma of his power? 

The essence of every government action should be to adopt the best course, the CJI added.

Responding to CJI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that CVC had come to the conclusion that an extraordinary situation had arisen and that extraordinary situations sometimes need extraordinary remedies.

''Extraordinary situation arose, CVC order was passed impartially. Two senior most officers were fighting and investigating cases against each other, instead of probing serious cases.CVC's inaction would have been the dereliction of duty,'' CVC told the CJI. 

CBI's top officers, instead of investigating cases, were investigating cases against each other, CVC told SC.