Half of CBI officers to have specialised skills

In an attempt to improve quality of its probe in complex cases needing technical expertise, CBI today directed that half of its officers at central units should be equipped with specialised skills.
The order issued today also directed the branches across the country to have one-fourth of their total strength to be specialised investigation officers.
"Linking the transfer policy with promoting specialised skills, the normal branch shall have 25 per cent of specialised Investigating Officers (I0s) while Central Units shall have 50 per cent specialised officers," it said.
The order said after completing the maximum tenure by a specialised IO, he/she will be considered to be transferred either to the same domain at different station or to the branch having investigation of similar nature, it said.

CBI will send officers for specialisation in a particular domain after five years of service which excludes training period.
"The performance and aptitude of officer will be basis on which concerned Head of Branch (HOB) and Head of Zone (HOZ) will recommend the name for specialisation in a particular domain," the new policy unveiled by the agency today said.

It said the recommendation of HOB and HOZ will be placed before a committee, to be constituted for the purpose for declaring an officer as specialist or selected for specialisation in a particular domain.
The agency will also give a chance to all its investigating officers to specialise in two areas during his service tenure.

The need for specialised skills of Investigating Officers was felt after the agency had an influx of large number of big ticket corruption and economic fraud cases including 2G scam, Coal scam, CWG scam, Saradha and chit fund cases, banking frauds, NSEL scam among others.