Five-year terms for CBI and ED chiefs

Five-year terms for CBI and ED chiefs

Part of: Prelims and GS II – Polity and GS-III- Money laundering

Context The Indian President recently promulgated (brought into effect) two ordinances that would allow the Union Government to extend the tenures of the directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from two years to up to five years.

• The chiefs of the Central agencies currently have a fixed two-year tenure, but can now be given three annual extensions.

The amended Acts

• For CBI director: The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 was amended
• The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 was amended with respect to the ED Director’s post.

About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

• The CBI is the premier investigating agency of India.
• Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. 
• Role: It was originally set up to investigate bribery and governmental corruption. In 1965, it received expanded jurisdiction to investigate breaches of central laws enforceable by the Government of India, multi-state organised crime, multi-agency or international cases. 
• CBI is exempted from the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
• CBI is India’s officially designated single point of contact for liaison with the Interpol.
• The CBI headquarter: New Delhi.

About Enforcement Directorate (ED)

• Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India.
• Ministry: Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
• The prime objective is the enforcement of two key Acts:
  • The Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) 
  • The Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Five regional offices: Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Delhi headed by Special Directors of Enforcement.