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Govt to study CAT order
against CBI chief

The government will study the order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bangalore branch, that set aside the appointment of Central Bureau of Investigation director R K Raghavan.

The order was passed by CAT vice chairman Neelam Sanjeeve Reddy and administrative member S K Ghoshal.

Karnataka Director General of Police C Dinkar had challenged the appointment of Raghavan as illegal, arbitrary and unjust.

Dinkar, who had not been empanelled for consideration for the post of director, CBI, had in his petition contended that he was eligible for the post.

Raghavan was appointed director on January 1,1999 after a three-member committee headed by Chief Vigilance Commissioner N Vittal found him suitable for the post, as per a Supreme Court directive.

According to the directive, the CBI director should have a minimum two years service ahead of him prior to retirement, before his name is considered by a panel of three members which selects a suitable officer.

"The Central Administrative Tribunal has given two months to the government, for the appointment of a new director and set right anomalies in the selection procedure. The government has still not got the text of the order. It will be studied and if necessary the government will go in for an appeal in the high court," a CBI source stated.

Raghavan retires in April and the CAT order may not make much of a difference to him. But if the high court refuses to grant a stay, it will affect him as it will reduce his status.

The government is looking out for a suitable candidate after Raghavan retires. The names of Delhi Police Commissioner Ajay Raj Sharma and H J Dora, director general of the Andhra Pradesh police, are being mentioned in home ministry circles.

Union Home Minister L K Advani is reported to be backing Sharma, who has had a successful three-year tenure as Delhi police commissioner.

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