Lok Sabha passes Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014

The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote. The Bill was introduced in the lower house by Mr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

This bill seeks to amend the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act in relation to the members of the Committee that appoints the CBI Director. Earlier this committee included the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition. The amendment seeks to include the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha on the three-member committee. It states that where there is no Leader of Opposition, the Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in that House would be part of the committee.

Since the Congress does not have the numbers to get the post of Leader of the Opposition, the largest Opposition party in the present Lok Sabha would not have been able to be a part of the committee without this amendment.

Further, the Bill also contains a provision that says that the appointment of Director will not be invalid on the grounds of any vacancy or absence of a member of the Committee. The Opposition opposed the Bill on the basis of this clause.