The meeting of the High powered panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that met on Friday to appoint new CBI Chief remained ‘Inconclusive’, said Officials. However, the panel is agreed to meet again on Saturday to finalize the name of CBI Director.
The High Powered panel, however, had also shortlisted a couple of names for the Top Post for the Central agency. The meeting, which considered a shortlist of 30-odd IPS officers picked from an exhaustive list of 80 eligible officers belonging to 1983-85 batches, managed to further cut down the list to three. Reportedly, Senior IPS officers of 1984 batch, Javeed Ahmed, Rajni Kant Misra and SS Deswal, are said to be among the top contenders for the coveted post.
Javed Ahmed, an Officer of Uttar Pradesh’s Cadre, is currently deployed as the Chief of National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences. While, Rajni Kant Mishra, a batchmate of Ahmed, is head of the Border Security Force (BSF). SS Deswal, who is from Haryana cadre, is the director general of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Other Officers who are also considered for the Top Post include – DGP Rishi Kumar Shukla, RR Bhatnagar, AP Maheshwari and Sudeep Lakhtakia.
Congress Leader and representing Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge is believed to have raised some reservations regarding the choice of officers based on their ranking as per seniority and experience.
The High-powered panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to meet again on Saturday to make a final call.
Earlier on Friday, Supreme Court expressed concern over the delay in the process of appointing new CBI Chief. The Apex Court termed it as “adverse” to the appointment of interim chief for the agency for a long period. Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Arun Mishra and Naveen Sinha said the post of CBI director is sensitive and the government should have appointed a regular director by now.
The last meeting of the committee took place on January 24 but it remained “inconclusive”.
Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner NGO, told the bench that the apex court must also look into the aspect of transparency in the process of appointing the CBI Chief. On Which, Bench asserted, ‘You want immediate appointment of CBI Chief, let it be done first. If you would any grievances after the appointment that procedure is not followed that you can challenge it later’.