The Hindu : National : CBI back under Personnel Ministry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

National

National

CBI back under Personnel Ministry

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. The Central Bureau of Investigation, the country's premier investigating agency, has been brought back under the control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in the Ministry of Personnel.

Official sources said the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today approved the Central Government notification proposing the change in allocation of business in this regard. During the NDA rule, the CBI had been brought under the ambit of the Prime Minister's Office with the Cabinet Secretariat exercising control over the agency.

As the DoPT was transferred to the Union Home Ministry about a year-and-a-half ago when L.K. Advani became the Deputy Prime Minister, the Vajpayee Government had taken CBI out of it and placed under the Cabinet Secretariat which reported to the Prime Minister's Office. It was felt that CBI should not be part of the Home Ministry as it was then probing politically sensitive cases and court proceedings had been going on in the December 1992 Ayodhya case in which Mr. Advani figured as an accused.

Under the new allocation of business, the Minister of State for Personnel, Suresh Pachauri, would look after the CBI and report to the PMO, sources said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National