Govt Ordinance: CBI & ED Directors’ Tenure Extended By Up To 5 Years

New Delhi: The Centre on Sunday brought two ordinances seeking to extend the tenure of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) directors by up to five years.

At present, ED and CBI chiefs’ tenure is two years.

The Ministry of Law and Justice stated that the Delhi Special Police (Establishment) Ordinance, 2021 and Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 will come into effect immediately.

The ordinances will be promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind as Parliament is not in session at currently.

The newly-inserted clause, to be introduced in the Central Vigilance Commission Act 2003, reads: “Provided that the period for which the Director of Enforcement holds the office on his initial appointment may, in public interest, on the recommendation of the Committee under clause (a) and for reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended up to one year at a time: Provided further that no such extension shall be granted after the completion of a period of five years in total including the period mentioned in the initial appointment.”

The amendment to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, states: “Provided that the period for which the Director holds the office on his initial appointment may, in public interest, on recommendation of the Committee under sub-section (1) of section 4A and for the reasons to be recorded in writing, be extended up to one year at a time: Provided further that no such extension shall be granted after the completion of a period of five years in total including the period mentioned in the initial appointment.”