The Bharatiya Janata Party’s objection to the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a peevish attempt to score a political point over the government. It is difficult to accept the party’s stand that the government should not have made the appointment at a time when the Rajya Sabha Select Committee’s Report on the Lokpal Bill — which, inter alia, suggests a mechanism by which the CBI Director is appointed by a collegium rather than by the government — had just been tabled and was pending consideration by Parliament. For one thing, the government was following existing law and procedure while filling up a post that was due to fall vacant on November 30: it had made the appointment based on a recommendation made by the Central Vigilance Commission, which shortlisted three names. Secondly, the Select Committee’s report is still some way from being considered, accepted and incorporated in the form of suitable amendments to the Lokpal Bill and taken up in Parliament. The objection may have had some substance had it been rooted in some specific opposition to the suitability of Mr. Sinha, but to argue that the government should wait for a new procedure to be established by law in future beats logic. It is doubtful if the appointment of a key position can be put on hold for an indefinite period until a set of recommendations on an issue that has divided the polity and has been the subject of acrimonious debate over the last two years is ultimately accepted and adopted by the legislature.
The Lokpal Bill, as passed by the Lok Sabha, envisages appointment of the CBI Director by the Central government on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court. The Select Committee’s recommendation only modifies this a little by specifying appointment by a collegium comprising the same three authorities. It is possible to argue that the government could have awaited the bill’s enactment into law, as it has already agreed, in substance, to change the present system. But given recent parliamentary experience, wherein conduct of proceedings is only a rare exception to disruption and paralysis, it is doubtful if any government will wait for the Select Committee report to evolve into law. Perhaps, the government’s past conduct — when it imposed a controversial selection for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner — breeds scepticism in the opposition ranks. As does the rather opaque functioning of the CBI in cases involving politicians. A remedy has to be found for this; but it will take more than a collegium-driven selection process for the Director to rid the agency of that fatal flaw.
Keywords: Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI Director appointment, Ranjit Sinha, BJP controversy, Lokpal Bill
Gentlement don't drag politics and paper in each and every debate. It is
right that such a post can't be left vacant but when a new selection
procedure is underway than there shouldn't be hurry at all. There may be
some differences on Mr. Ranjeet 's name but that also can be disscussed.
BJP is even unable to untangled their internal conflicts and they are
annoying by raising such issues. First they need to make a single stand on
any issue, then only they should come up.
An important position like that of the CBI Director should not be kept
vacant. The act of BJP is not acceptable.
Although this newspaper provides us with quality news, more often than
not, it favors the current ruling party projecting the positive points.
It does appear most of the times that, any sort of developmental
activity being carried out BJP or any other opposition doesn't go well
with the printers. Why amplify the low points of opposition and
attenuate the high points??
In a parliamentary democracy like ours it is the "House of nation builders",
that helps to have a healthy and fruitful discussion on any issue.That
said,disallowing parliament not to function sticking to a issue leaving precious
business hours continuously, is a very bad episode in the Indian Parliamentary
democracy.
Perhaps might be for the first time after independence people
are in a "catch-22" situation with neither constructive ruling nor opposition
parties, finally making mockery of the parliamentary democracy.How can a house
which cannot have a subjective discussions, can show solutions to the problems of
the people??
In any parliamentary democracy 4 D's matter most --
Differences,Discussion,Debate and Decision.True,with pure differences and no
subjective discussion we cannot arrive at a decision.
Under the present leadership BJP is a rudderless ship
The frustrated BJP does not have any agenda except to create hurdles for the ruling government and its continuation in the power. It is high time the BJP must stop this stunt as people of country are watching them and waiting to eliminate them in coming 2014 general elections.
The argument put forward by the BJP to hold up the appointment of a new director is not only illogical but also raises doubts about BJP's intentions since the bill introduced in the Parliament may take more time to become law after discussions and voting.May be the next elections to the Loksabha would be nearby and the present government may not be able to appoint anyone till the new government takes office.It is not advisable to keep a sensitive position vacant making the organization rudderless and directionless.
There may be valid ground for the BJP to be sceptical about the govt.'s
move for appointing CBI Director given the govt.'s past conduct in
regard to CVC appointment but until the Select Committee report is
available in due course, there is no other way but to follow the
existing procedure. To make it an issue when there is none is not a
mature course of action by the BJP.It will only be taken as opposition
for opposition's sake.The Opposition should not waste its trump card in
this manner and reserve it for a genuine occasion.
Probably now thats why the BJP govt didnt appoint a Lokayukt in Gujarat
for 8 years now!!! They were waiting for guidelines in the Lokpal Bill
which is still in the writing desks of the Parliament.
Certainly the post of CBI Director can't be remain vacant. But on last
two occasion before this one, government announced the appointment
just a day before. Then why they were in hurry to announce this time a
week before.
Apart from that does the government thinks that this is the right
method of choosing cbi head almost unilaterally.
I think considering the current situation, government don't want to
let the CBI go out of their hands reach.
Only officers with not unblemished career but decorated ones should be considered
for such a post. In the given case, there are charges against the officer. The newspaper indirectly favours the ruling party and undervalues the due role opposition has played. It shows that the real issue has not been considered and something trivial given meaning.
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