BENGAL ASSEMBLY MOVES PRIVILEGE MOTION AGAINST CBI, ED OFFICERS

Deputy Chief Whip of the West Bengal Assembly, Tapas Roy has filed a complaint against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly disrespecting the Assembly. Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee had summoned CBI and ED officials Satyendra Singh and Rathin Biswas, repeatedly, but they avoided appearing before him. Tapas Roy has alleged that this has tarnished the dignity of the Speaker, the reason why he has brought charges against DSP CBI Satyendra Singh and Assistant Director Rathin Biswas, claiming that they have violated the powers of the Legislative Assembly.

The issue of the ongoing tension between the two investigating officers in the Legislative Assembly came to the notice of the Speaker on Tuesday. According to the Assembly, despite repeated summons, the two officials avoided appearing, giving multiple excuses. Within 24 hours, it was seen that a motion was tabled in the Assembly against these two officers, which, observers say, is unprecedented not only in the history of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, but in the history of the country’s legislature.

West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress is angry that chargesheets were filed against their leaders including the late Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra without the knowledge of the Speaker. The Assembly was tasked to deliver the chargesheet to the people concerned. The Privilege Committee will present its report in the next session. The Privilege Committee will begin an investigation into the customary procedure.

The Centre has recently issued an ordinance extending the tenure of CBI and ED officials. The tenure of the officers has been increased from two years to five years. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has been vocal against this ordinance of the Centre. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien took to Twitter to protest against the ordinance.

S.K. Mishra is currently the head of the Enforcement Directorate. In 2016, he was appointed as the ED director. His term has already been extended. The case was taken to the Supreme Court. A bench headed by Supreme Court Justice L.N. Rao said the term could be extended only in rare and exceptional cases.

The extended term of ED director S.K. Mishra is coming to an end on 18 November. Last year, it was decided to extend his two-year term for another year. And this time, just before the end of his extended term, the Centre ordinance is undoubtedly considered by many as a strong step.