Kolkata, June 8: The West Bengal government announced on Monday the restoration of “general consent” for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe corruption-related cases. This decision allows the CBI to initiate investigations in the state without seeking separate permissions from the state government each time.
However, the state government has attached a condition to this decision. If allegations are made against any employee of the state government, the CBI must obtain prior approval from the state government before commencing the investigation.
Notably, in 2018, the then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government revoked the general consent granted to the CBI. Following that, the CBI had only two options for initiating investigations in West Bengal: to seek separate permission from the state government for each case or to proceed based on court orders.
The new West Bengal government has now annulled the previous government’s decision under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, reinstating general consent for the CBI.
It is important to mention that even after the withdrawal of general consent in 2018, the CBI registered FIRs in several corruption-related cases. At that time, the Trinamool Congress government opposed the CBI’s actions and approached the Supreme Court. The state government even challenged the Calcutta High Court‘s orders directing CBI investigations in certain cases in the Supreme Court.
During this period, the central government argued that no state government has unlimited powers and cannot shield accused individuals or obstruct the functioning of investigative agencies for political reasons.
Leave a Comment