Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has appointed fellow Supreme Court judge Justice A.K. Sikri to the 'high powered' committee that will decide on the continuance in office of CBI Director Alok Verma.
While the committee that selects the CBI chief consists of the prime minister, leader of opposition and chief justice of India, Chief Justice Gogoi reportedly recused himself from the matter as he was part of the bench that delivered the verdict reinstating Verma.Sikri is the second senior-most judge in the Supreme Court.
On Tuesday, Verma was reinstated to the post of CBI director by the Supreme Court, two-and-half months after the Narendra Modi government had divested him of powers and sent him on leave.
While the Supreme Court restored Verma to his position of CBI chief, it restrained him from taking any policy decisions. The Supreme Court also ordered that the high-powered committee meet within a week to decide on Verma's fate. The other members of the committee are Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
Some media reports claimed the high-powered committee may convene by 8pm on Wednesday evening to decide on Verma continuing as CBI chief.
Verma's return has been portrayed as being a blow to Prime Minister Modi and as a shot in the arm for the opposition.
