Centre files affidavit in SC, opposes autonomy to CBI

The Government on Wednesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing autonomy for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In its affidavit, it maintained that the CBI director cannot be given the status of an ex-officio secretary, as it will amount to vesting too much power in one authority.

"A decision in this regard taken by the executive in good faith, should be treated as bonafide," said V.Narayansamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

The development came after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram maintained that the Centre will protect the CBI's future and its legality.

Both also cautioned the CBI not to cross the thin line between policing and policy making.

The opposition has repeatedly attacked the Center for misusing the CBI and influencing its work for political gains. The apex court had also described the CBI as a caged bird and stressed on the need for giving it more powers.

The CBI recently told the Supreme Court that its director should be given a minimum three-year term instead of two with a rank equal to a secretary and sought more financial autonomy while rejecting Centre's proposal for an accountability panel for it.

Contending that administrative and financial powers of the CBI Director are "limited", the agency in its 14-page affidavit said more is needed to be done than what has been proposed by the Centre to ensure autonomy and insulate it from extraneous influences.