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Dire need to widen CBI’s powers: House panel on needing states’ consent

Asserting that withdrawal of ‘general consent’ by some states has led to severe limitations in the CBI’s powers to investigate crucial cases, a Parliamentary panel on Monday said there was a dire need to enact a new law and give wider powers to the federal agency so that it can probe cases without a “state’s consent and interference”.
At the same time, the panel said that some safeguards should also be laid down to ensure objectivity and impartiality in the functioning of CBI so that the states also don’t feel discriminated against.
As per the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, which governs the functioning of the CBI, the consent of the state government is a pre-requisite for any investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Nine states have withdrawn the general consent to the CBI for investigating cases, according to a report tabled by the panel in Parliament on Monday.
State governments have granted general consent to the CBI for …