Bhopal: CBI will require written consent from the state before it can initiate inquiries in its jurisdiction, said the Madhya Pradesh government. The order that had retrospective effect came into effect on July 1. With the implementation of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, one of three new criinal laws, CBI will now need written clearance from state administration to investigate individuals, government officials or any entities within the state.
According to Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, the CBI will require written consent from state government to conduct an investigation in its jurisdiction. With this, Madhya Pradesh which BJP rules has now joined the league of states (ruled mostly by Opposition) such as Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, and Telangana which require CBI to seek permission. In October 2022, the Eknath Shinde government restored the general consent given to the CBI to investigate cases in the state.
Withdrawal of general consent by some states has led to severe liitations in the CBI’s powers to investigate crucial cases. Punjab, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerela, West Benga, Mizoram, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya had withdrawn their consent. A parliamentary panel recently noted the dire need to enact a new law and give wider powers to the federal agency to probe cases without a ‘state’s consent and interference’.
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