English Article

Falling Credibility of CBI

CJI flags ‘falling credibility’ of CBI.

Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Friday said that with the passage of time, like every other institution of repute, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also come under deep public scrutiny. Its actions and inactions had raised questions regarding its credibility, in some cases. Delivering the 19th D.P. Kohli Memorial Lecture, organised by the CBI, he said there was an immediate need for the creation of an independent umbrella institution, so as to bring various central agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office under one roof. “We have a vested interest in strengthening democracy, because we essentially believe in democratic way of living. We Indians love our freedom. When any attempt has been made to snatch our freedom, our alert citizenry did not hesitate to seize the power back from autocrats. So, it is essential that, all the institutions including the police and the investigative bodies uphold and strengthen the democratic values,” he said. Chief Justice Ramana said the police and the probe agencies should not allow any authoritarian tendencies to creep in. “They need to function within democratic framework as prescribed under the Constitution. Any deviation will hurt the institutions and will weaken our democracy. The police and the investigative agencies may have de-facto legitimacy, but yet, as institutions, they still have to gain social legitimacy,” he said. Recommending an independent umbrella institution, the CJI said: “This body is required to be created under a statute, clearly defining its powers, functions and jurisdictions... This organisation will end multiplicity of proceedings.”