A parliamentary committee has stated that an existing law governing the federal probe agency has “many limitations” and that there is a need to enact new legislation to define its status, functions, and powers, citing the withdrawal of general consent for CBI probe by many states. The Central Bureau of Investigation was established in 1963. It is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, enacted to regulate the functioning of the special police establishment set up in 1941 to investigate cases of bribery and corruption involving purchases and supplies during World War II. The department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law, and Justice said that according to the provisions of the DSPE Act, the consent of the state government is a prerequisite for any investigation by the CBI, and as of date, nine states have withdrawn the general consent.
The panel said that vacant posts in the CBI are not being filled at the required pace and recommended that “every effort should be made to fill up vacancies at the earliest”. A total of 1,709 posts are vacant in the CBI, against its sanctioned strength of 7,295. The panel further recommended that the director of CBI should monitor the progress made in filling up vacancies on a quarterly basis and take the necessary measures to ensure that the organization is sufficiently staffed. The Committee said it fully agrees with the view of CBI that deputies benefit the organization with their expertise and skill sets, but feels that an organization should keep the mode of recruitment through deputies to a minimum.
