New Delhi, Mar 17: There has been rise in number of cases being referred by the Supreme Court and high courts to the CBI for probe, the government said on Wednesday.
A total of 292 cases were referred last year by the apex court and high courts as against 175 in 2014, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.
Various state governments have referred 34 cases last year as against 32 in 2014, he said.
Of these, investigation in 12 and 29 cases were closed during 2015 and 2014 respectively by the CBI, the Minister said.
In January this year alone, Supreme Court and high courts have referred 15 cases to the CBI for probe. Whereas, state governments have recommended two cases for probe by the central agency, Singh said.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice had in its recent report criticised judicial activism of Supreme and higher courts by overseeing investigation and passing interim directions to CBI saying it may appear to be a “colourable exercise” of power by them.
“In order to streamline the processing of the cases and to enable examination of the feasibility of undertaking investigation by CBI, guidelines have been circulated to state governments for making reference for CBI investigation or enquiry,” he said.
