CBI Director Appointment Meeting: CJI Sanjiv Khanna Joins PMO Meeting Alongside LoP Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: A crucial meeting regarding the appointment of the new CBI Director was held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Leader of the Opposition (LoP), and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in attendance. The meeting was to ensure a consensus-driven approach to the appointment process of the new CBI director. Sources claimed that the present CBI director is likely to get a one-year extension. However, an official announcement regarding the new CBI director or extension of the incumbent agency chief, is yet to made. 

The appointment of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director undergoes a critical process that requires careful consideration, given the agency's important role in investigating high-profile cases and maintaining the integrity of the country's law enforcement framework. The CBI Director is responsible for overseeing the agency's operations, ensuring that investigations are conducted with utmost professionalism and impartiality. As such, the appointment process involves discussion and consensus of the PMO, the CJI, and the LoP, to ensure that the selected candidate possesses the requisite experience, and independence.

The meeting at the PMO was an important development in the appointment process, with CJI Sanjiv Khanna, LoP, and Rahul Gandhi participating in the discussions. The presence of these high-profile individuals showcases the importance of the CBI Director's role and the need for a transparent and consultative approach to the appointment process. According to sources, the meeting deliberated on the selection process.

The tenure of the current CBI Director Praveen Sood is set to end on May 25, and the Union government is gearing up to initiate the process of selecting a new director. A high-powered committee, comprising the Prime Minister, the LoP in the Lok Sabha, and the CJI will play an important role in recommending a suitable candidate for the position.

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The CBI Director's appointment is governed by a well-defined process, with the Union government making the final appointment based on the recommendation of the three-member committee. The committee's composition ensures that the selection process is transparent, fair, and based on merit. The presence of the Prime Minister, the LoP, and the CJI or a nominated Supreme Court judge guarantees that the candidate selected possesses the requisite expertise, experience, and independence to lead the agency effectively.

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Praveen Sood May Get Extension

As per reports, CBI Director Praveen Sood is likely to get a one-year extension after a high-level selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to reach a consensus on his successor. The meeting of the selection committee, which was also attended by Rahul Gandhi and CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna, was held at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.

The meeting came ahead of the end of the two-year term of incumbent CBI Director Praveen Sood on May 25. 

Sood, a 1986-batch IPS officer of the Karnataka cadre, was the state's Director General of Police (DGP) prior to his appointment as the CBI Director. He took over as the director of the premier investigative agency on May 25 in 2023.