Next meeting of PM-led panel to pick new CBI chief on Friday: Mallikarjun Kharge
New Delhi, Jan 30: The next meeting of the selection committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to pick the new CBI director will take place on Friday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also a member of the panel, said on Wednesday.
The last meeting of the panel took place on January 24 but it remained "inconclusive". It was held at the prime minister's official residence and was attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Kharge, who's the Congress's leader in the Lok Sabha.
"The next meeting of the panel on selection of the CBI chief will take place on February 1 at around 6 PM," Kharge told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads the three-member panel with Kharge and Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi as its members.
At the last meeting, Kharge had sought dossiers of all the eligible officers for the post.
The post of the CBI chief has been lying vacant since January 10 after the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma, who was engaged in a bitter fight with Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana over corruption charges.
Both Verma and Asthana have accused each other of impropriety.
Verma, after being removed from the post of CBI director, was named as the Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards a less significant portfolio.
Verma did not accept the offer and wrote to the government, saying he should be considered as deemed superannuated as he had completed 60 year age of superannuation.
He had taken over as the CBI chief on February 1, 2017 for a fixed two-year tenure.
M Nageswara Rao has been working as the interim CBI chief after Verma's ouster.
Verma's resignation letter had led to a political slugfest with the opposition parties, mainly the Congress, accusing the central government of alleged interference in public institutions.
Kharge had recently written to the prime minister terming Rao's appointment as the CBI's interim chief "illegal". He had asked the government to immediately convene the meeting of the panel to decide on the new CBI chief.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
