CBI Director Praveen Sood's tenure extended by 1 year: Rahul Gandhi questions selection process, says Leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp

The tenure of CBI Director Praveen Sood has been extended for 1 year. The government gave this information by issuing a notification on Wednesday. Sood's term was to end on May 24. Earlier on Tuesday, a meeting was held at the Prime Minister's residence on the selection of the new CBI director. It was attended by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Chief Justice (CJI) Surya Kant and Rahul Gandhi. After the meeting, Rahul expressed his disagreement over the selection process. Rahul shared a letter on social media alleging that a list of 69 candidates has been given for selection. Their details have not been made available. Rahul said that the process of selecting the CBI director has been made just a formality. I cannot shirk my constitutional duty by indulging in this partisan act. But I strongly disagree with you. Rahul arrives for meeting at 7:15 pm Rahul leaves meeting at 8:40 pm on Tuesday What is the process of selecting the CBI director? The names of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha are finalized at the meeting of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Subsequently, the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) issues an order after receiving a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs. As per the directions of the Supreme Court in 2019, no senior officer whose retirement is less than six months left cannot be considered for the post of CBI Director. The court also said that the tenure of the director cannot be less than 2 years and he can be transferred only with the consent of the Appointments Committee. The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003 fixed the tenure of the CBI Director at two years. However, it can be extended from one year to five years depending on the situation. Praveen Sood, the current CBI Director, took over as the CBI Chief on May 25, 2023. He was due to retire last year but his tenure was extended by a year. Sood is a 1986 batch IPS officer of Karnataka cadre. Praveen Sood is a resident of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. His father, Om Prakash Sood, was a clerk in the Delhi government, while his mother, Kamlesh Sood, was a teacher in a government school in Delhi. Sood did his schooling from a government school in Delhi. He then did his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi. In 1986, at the age of 22, he became an IPS. He got Karnataka cadre. During his service, he completed his MBA in Public Police Management from IIM Bangalore. In the beginning of his police service, he served as SP in Bellary and Raichur. He also served as DCP in Bengaluru and Mysore. Sood has received a gold medal from the CM in 1996. In addition, Police Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded in 2002 and Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2011 by the President. Praveen Sood has also been the DGP of Karnataka.