Alok Verma was reinstated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, two months after the government sent him and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on forced leave for fighting like 'kilkenny cats'.
The manner in which the court arrived at this verdict raises serious questions about procedural justice in the highest court of the land
CJI Ranjan Gogoi has reportedly nominated Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri to attend the meet
Verma resumed duties Wednesday and revoked almost all transfers affected by Rao, an official said on condition of anonymity
Meanwhile, Verma had on Wednesday joined the office following the order
The selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, the CJI and the leader of the single largest opposition party
The government had given charge to then Joint Director M Nageswara Rao who was later promoted as additional director in the agency
Curb remains till a high-powered committee completes probe on graft charges against him; Verma had moved top court challenging govt decision to send him on leave
Verma had approached the apex court challenging the orders of the CVC and the Centre divesting him of his powers and sending him on leave
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday to reinstate Alok Verma as CBI director, saying the apex court ruling had restored faith in independent institutions. "Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir. (It) reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars," Mufti said in a tweet. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the Centre should now stop "misusing" the investigative agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) for political ends. "Time for the Central gov to stop misusing its influence to arm twist investigative agencies like (the) NIA & CBI for political vendetta," she added.
The high-powered committee, which selects the CBI chief, comprises of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition or the leader of the single largest opposition party.
In a midnight move in October, the Union government had asked Alok Verma to go on leave following a public spat with his deputy and special CBI director Rakesh Asthana
Gandhi's remarks come after the Supreme Court reinstated CBI Director Verma, setting aside the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers
Earlier in the day, the apex court reinstated Verma, setting aside the Centre's decision to divest him of his powers, but restrained him from taking any major policy decision
After the Supreme Court gave orders to reinstate CBI director Alok Verma, Jaitley said the government would comply with the orders of the apex court
The court needed to consider competence of CVC, without the nod of the selection panel, said Justice S K Kaul while reading out the verdict, authored by Justice Gogoi
The Supreme Court had reserved the order on Verma's plea on December 6
The Centre had taken a decision against Verma and CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana after their feud had become public
The agency had issued an order on Friday transferring Joint Director V Murugesan from the Anti-Corruption wing, which was probing the case against Rakesh Asthana
The Supreme Court has asked Rao not to take any policy decisions until it hears the petition related to the feud between Verma and Asthana