New Delhi: At a time when the Prime Minister's Office is facing criticism from Opposition for flouting rules in the appointment of a CBI Additional Director, Dr Manmohan Singh said on Tuesday that in a democracy political executive needs some superintendence over agencies.
Speaking at the CVC Golden Jubilee Celebrations, the Prime Minister said, "Our government has worked for the autonomy to CBI but political executive needs some superintendence over agencies in democracy."
He, however, also claimed that the investigation agency has always enjoyed complete autonomy.
The PMO and the government at the Centre has been severely criticised after CNN-IBN exposed that the former had ignored the recommendations by Central Vigilance Commission and went ahead with its choice for the post of CBI Additional Director.
The BJP had raised the report in its parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday morning and decided to take it up in Parliament.
As per the CVC Act, the Additional Director's name must be cleared by the Chief Vigilance Commissioner. The PMO, however, cleared the appointment of IPS officer Archana Ramasundram without consulting the CVC.
According to sources, the CVC never recommended her name for the post. Instead it had proposed the name of an IPS officer from West Bengal cadre RK Pachnanda to the post.
The PMO snubbed CVC's recommendation and went directly to the Department of Personnel and Training to clear the appointment.
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