The Supreme Court has quashed the Central government's midnight order removing Alok Verma from the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) top post, three months after he was forced to go on leave and divested him of his powers.
Though Alok Verma can resume charge at the earliest, he is not allowed to take any policy decisions as the top court asked a high-powered selection committee to meet and decide his future job. The selection committee comprises of the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader and the Chief Justice of India.
The Supreme Court's decision came after Alok Verma had challenged the centre's midnight removal despite having a fixed two-year term and argued that he can be removed only by the high-powered committee, which appointed him earlier.
The government had decided to remove Mr. Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on October 23 midnight and sent both on leave after two officers engaged in a war of words publicly. The government had drawn flak for this immediate action from various circles, politically and socially, as the main opposition party congress alleged conspiracy behind Verma's removal.
"We welcome the Supreme Court's verdict lambasting the government against their illegal removal of Alok Verma as CBI Director," said the Congress.
Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that the court ruling was a "direct indictment" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
