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Though P C Sharma, has taken over as acting director of the Central Bureau of Investigation from R K Raghavan, who retired on Monday, the controversy surrounding the appointment of Raghavan's successor is far from over.
Insiders point out that Sharma is only acting director and despite his merit he is far too junior to other officers who are in contention.
"You see the government cannot reject the recommendation of the three member selection panel headed by Chief Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal. Because if the government does appoint someone besides the recommended panel, it would be against the spirit of the Supreme Court order of 1998. R Vishwanathan, director general fire service and forests, who was not considered has approached the Central Administrative Tribunal for redressal. The next date of hearing is in the first week of June. Likewise many other officers who have not been considered can approach the tribunal. If the government of India sends back the recommendations of the panel it has to give in writing why it is doing so. Till that happens, the names sent by the selection panel stand," said a senior ranking officer of the agency.
Both Raghavan and Sharma refused to be drawn into controversy. While the former is happy that he could complete his term despite the fact that his appointment had been quashed by the CAT, Bangalore, because of the vacation of the order by the Supreme Court.
Sharma is keeping quiet because if he says anything it might harm his interests.
Asked why so many IPS officers are now desperate for the top post in the CBI when there were few takers some years back, Raghavan said, "Every IPS officer aspires to retire either as director of the CBI or the Intelligence Bureau. There is nothing wrong in it."
When asked if he had heard anything from the Union government in this regard, the chief vigilance commissioner N Vittal said that so far the government has not got in touch with him.
In the event Sharma is confirmed as the CBI director by the Union government, which many of his colleagues think is improbable, the CBI would need two more senior ranking officers to be posted as special directors in place of P C Sharma and Gopal Achary respectively.
EARLIER REPORTSCAT sets aside CBI director's appointment Panel shortlists 3 names for CBI director Recommendations for CBI director's post final: Vittal CBI director's appointment subject to outcome of Karnataka DGP's petition
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