New Delhi:
Government may effect only minor changes in functioning of the CBI as the Group of Ministers (GoM) constituted for empowerment of the agency would finalise on June 24 its affidavit to be submitted to Supreme Court, with no presentation from the CBI so far.
The third meeting of GoM headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram, which was in New Delhi on Thursday, felt that some "gaps need to be filled" and the affidavit to be finalised at the next meeting will be put before cabinet before it is submitted to Supreme Court by July 3.
The GoM which saw the attendance of Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati for the second time discussed the "contours" of the affidavit to be filed in the apex court for an hour.
Speaking to reporters, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said "the group of minister met for about an hour. We have discussed the contours of the affidavit that is to be filed in the Supreme Court and the proposals for the amendments that are to be made which will be given to the Supreme Court along with the affidavit.
"Some gaps are still there which have to be filled up. The next meeting is on June 24 when the affidavit will be finalised then we will go to the cabinet and file affidavit before the Supreme Court by July 3," he said.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid could not attend the meeting.
So far, the CBI Director has not been invited to the GoM to give his inputs on strengthening and empowering the agency and its proposal to start probe against any officer above the rank of joint secretary, if a decision on giving sanction for prosecution does not come in the stipulated three months, has not found many takers within the Government.
The sources said that the Government was in no mood to bring in any CBI Act and may make some minor changes to Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the law which governs the agency, so that the financial powers of the CBI Director were enhanced.
