NEW DELHI: The committee headed by the central vigilance commissioner, which cleared the name of Bihar cadre IPS officer Ranjit Sinha leading to his appointment as CBI director, had overlooked his candidature two years ago when it did not empanel him though he was senior to two persons among the three names suggested to the government then.
The apex vigilance body instead recommended two of his juniors — A P Singh and S C Sinha—in the panel of three names sent to the government. The third name was that of N R Das who was the senior-most but was pipped at the post by A P Singh who went on to become CBI director. After Ranjit Sinha's appointment, however, the government claimed that it went only by seniority.
"If he (Ranjit Sinha) was senior that time (in 2010), he should have figured in the panel of three names and if the committee did not find him fit to be included in the panel, it should give reasons why they have included him this time," said Sudhir Kumar, a former vigilance commissioner who was part of the selection process of the CBI director in 2008.
Sources said Sinha, a 1974 batch IPS officer, was earlier rejected by the CVC-headed committee given his controversial tenure as DIG of CBI in Patna. His handling of the fodder scam case had allegedly come in the way of his consideration for the top job.
The five-member CVC-headed panel involved in the selection of three names for the CBI director's post comprises two vigilance commissioners, DoPT secretary and the home secretary.
When A P Singh was appointed CBI director over N R Das and Ranjit Sinha, who was not even empanelled, the impression given by the government was that it went purely by merit and the officer's experience with the agency was given priority. At that time, Sinha was director general, Railway Protection Force. One of the factors that weighs in favour of a senior officer when he is being considered by the CVC for the post of CBI director is his experience with any anti-corruption organization or a vigilance body in the preceding two years.
A P Singh was appointed by the government in 2010 overlooking a senior N R Das (West Bengal 1973) who was also in the panel of three names as Singh had longer experience of working in vigilance and CBI and at the time of appointment he was working as No.2 in CBI.
In the present case, the CVC followed seniority criterion while it has always adopted seniority-cum-merit and suitability factor. The committee had recommended three names — Ranjit Sinha (Bihar 1974), S C Sinha (Haryana 1975) and Atul (UP 1976).
This was challenged by Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar (UT 1976) who had moved the Central Administrative Tribunal against the recommendation of his junior batch officer Atul. Kumar later retracted his plea after the government named Sinha as CBI chief and said seniority was the only criterion.
The CVC and the government had laid emphasis on overall merit and suitability when it appointed Ashwini Kumar as CBI chief in 2008. Kumar was a 1973 batch IPS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre and was empanelled by CVC overlooking more senior officers - J K Dutt (West Bengal 1971) and M L Kumawat (AP 1972. The two were ignored despite the fact that Dutt and Kumawat had long stints in the CBI and worked in the anti-corruption agency at senior levels. Dutt was later appointed DG of National Security Guard and Kumawat was made DG of Border Security Force.
Ranjit Sinha was rejected for CBI director's post in 2010
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Ranjit Sinha was rejected for CBI director's post in 2010
