Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014 passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on 26 November 2014 passed Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The amendment bill was passed by voice vote to include leader of the single Largest Opposition Party (LoP) as a member of the selection committee to choose the CBI chief.

The amendment to the DSPE Act, 1946 was required in light of the fact that the present Central Bureau of Investigation chief Ranjit Sinha is due to retire on 2 December 2014. This would have necessitated choosing a new CBI chief which is selected by a panel that also includes Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The existing provisions of the Act states that a CBI chief can be appointed by the Union Government on the basis of recommendation of the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister, and comprising the LoP and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by him, as members.

However, in the 16th Lok Sabha, there is no recognised Leader of Opposition as no party was able to cross the benchmark of one-tenth of the total membership of the House that is required for leader of opposition.

Thus, the Bill amending Section 4 (a) of the Act was introduced in Lok Sabha on 24 November 2014 to include leader of the single Largest Opposition Party (LoP) as a member of the selection committee to choose the CBI chief.

However, the amendment stated that any vacancy or absence in the panel will not render the appointment of the CBI Director invalid.