ED Director Karnal Singh gets two-year fixed term

Karnal Singh, Director of Enforcement Directorate (ED), on 7 February 2017 was given a fixed two-year tenure to head the anti-money laundering investigation agency. The move came following a recent Supreme Court directive.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) also approved a two-year fixed term for Singh effective from 27 October 2016.

In October 2016, the ACC had approved the name of Singh as ED chief until 31 August 2017.

Singh, a Union Territories cadre officer, had held the additional charge of the post of ED chief since August 19, 2015, until the time he was elevated as the Director.

Background

• The Supreme Court recently ordered that Singh's appointment as ED Director would be for two years from 27 October 2016.

• The apex court’s directive came following a PIL petition filed in 2016 by Mumbai-based former Indian Revenue Service officer Uday Babu Khalwadekar.

• The SC had noted that, as per the appointment letter issued to Singh, he would cease to hold office the day he superannuates in August 2017, which was a violation of Section 25(d) of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act.

• The top court directed the Union Government to issue a fresh notification within a week on the appointment of Singh as the ED Director for two years, in line with the provisions of the CVC Act.

• The government's move came considering Singh's retirement due in August 2017 and following the recent direction by the apex court to the government.