CVC strengthens mechanism to oversee CBI functioning

Citing coalgate and other highly sensitive cases, the Central Vigilance Commission has strengthened its superintendence over the functioning of CBI, including carrying out in-depth review of progress of probe in cases of "grave or serious nature".
There has been difference of opinion between CBI and CVC over the probe in multi-crore coal blocks allocation scam with the Commission opposing closure of several preliminary enquiries registered by the CBI. The CVC had been asked by the Supreme Court to scrutinise the closure reports in the cases.
Under the revamped regime, CBI will have to provide specific data required by the Commission as well as give data and details on preliminary enquiries (PEs) and registered cases (RCs) separately to the CVC by 7th of every month. Earlier, there was no such deadline.

"The issue of enhancing the effectiveness of exercise of superintendence over CBI has been engaging the attention of the Commission for some time.
"The Commission is of the view that with increase in highly sensitive cases in the recent past, and especially in view of directions of Supreme Court to CBI to submit closure reports of preliminary enquiries registered in coal block allocation matters to CVC for examination or scrutiny and submission to the SC, a need has arisen now to revisit the mechanism evolved by the Commission to exercise superintendence over CBI," the CVC said in a letter to CBI Director Anil Sinha.

The CVC shall hold review meeting on monthly basis or at any such intervals as may be decided by the Commission from time to time with the Director CBI, as per the revised mechanism.

"The Commission may select cases of grave or serious nature in addition to present category of important and long pending cases and conduct an in-depth review of the progress of investigation every quarter or so," it said.
CBI shall further provide any other specific data as may be required by the Commission from time to time for exercising its statutory role, as per the enhanced mechanism, which comes into force from this month, the letter said

"The CBI will give data and details on preliminary enquiries and registered cases separately to the CVC by 7th of every month," it said.