Terming the existing legislation governing the Central Bureau of Investigation as grossly inadequate, a parliamentary committee on Wednesday suggested “solid” statutory backing for the agency through a separate new act. The committee, in its report tabled in Parliament last year on demands for grants, had recommended a legislation on the lines of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 so that the agency can probe corruption cases throughout the country without the states’ consent. Later, the government, in its action taken report on the panel’s recommendation, had said no proposal was being considered for the purpose as there is already a separate legislation for CBI — Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1947 as amended by CVC Act, 2003. The panel, which tabled its report in the Parliament on Wednesday, laimed that the DSPE Act, 1946 is grossly inadequate to cater to the agency. “The committee is of the considered view that a solid statutory backing is needed for CBI and that the DSPE Act, 1946 is grossly inadequate to cater to CBI which is an organisation whose mandate has increased manifold. Therefore, the committee recommends that in the event of enacting a fresh statute for CBI not found to be feasible, requisite amendments may be made in the DSPE Act, 1946,” the panel suggested in the report asking ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions to give an action taken report in this regard. The committee has also asked the government to explore out of box means to check staff crunch in country’s premier investigating agency. “The committee feels that there is a need to explore, out of the box possibilities, to address this (staff shortage) problem. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the ministry (of personnel) should, in close coordination with CBI, chalk out a strategic and time bound action plan to tackle this problem,” the Standing Committee said. According to a latest data updated July 9, 2012, as many as 801 posts are lying vacant in the CBI. The panel has rejected an argument put forth by the agency that if officers from state police forces are not taken on deputation, it will give rise to suspicion of branding of CBI as a central government agency and said “excessive dependence on deputation needs to be discouraged”.
