Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday to reinstate Alok Verma as CBI director, saying the apex court ruling had restored faith in independent institutions.
“Welcome SCs decision to reinstate #AlokVerma as CBI Dir. (It) reinstates belief in independent institutions of our democracy that are its pillars,” Mufti said in a tweet.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the Centre should now stop “misusing” the investigative agencies like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) for political ends.
“Time for the Central gov to stop misusing its influence to arm twist investigative agencies like (the) NIA & CBI for political vendetta,” she added.
Pertinently, Exiled CBI chief Alok Verma was reinstated by the Supreme Court Tuesday, three months after the government divested him of his powers and sent him on forced leave in a midnight swoop. Alok Verma can go back to his office but cannot take any major policy decisions for now, the top court said, asking a high-powered selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India to meet and decide on his status within a week.
It also means only partial relief for Alok Verma, who had challenged the government’s October 23 order arguing that the CBI chief has a fixed two year term and can be removed only by the high-powered committee. Mr Verma’s term ends on January 31.