Those rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision on the extension of Enforcement Directorate chief's tenure are delusional for various reasons, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday, adding that the top court has upheld the amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act.
“Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same,” Shah tweeted hours after the apex court held as "illegal" two notifications by the Centre granting extension of service, for one year each time, to Indian Revenue Service officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra as the ED chief.
“ED is an institution which rises beyond any one individual and is focused on achieving its core objective - i.e. to investigate offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws,” Shah said.
“Thus, who the ED director is - that is not important because whoever assumes this role will take note of the rampant corruption of a cozy club of entitled dynasts who have an anti-development mindset,” he further said.
The top court upheld the amendments made to the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Act, 2021 and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Act, 2021 as well as to the Fundamental (Amendment) Rules, 2021 by which the government can give a maximum of five-year tenure to CBI and ED chiefs.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol said in view of the peer review being conducted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) this year, and to enable smooth transition, Mishra's tenure will be till July 31.
FATF is a global body that leads action to tackle money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing.
"The impugned orders dated November 17, 2021 and November 17, 2022 granting extensions to the tenure of the respondent No.2- Sanjay Kumar Mishra for a period of one year each are held to be illegal," the bench said, while partially allowing the writ petitions challenging the extension given to the officer.
The opposition Congress termed the SC verdict as a vindication of its stand and a slap on the face of the government. The party claimed that it has now become clear how the government is "misusing" agencies to target the opposition leaders and destabilise elected governments in non-BJP-ruled states.
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal said his party has maintained from the beginning that the extension of tenure of the ED director is "totally illegal".
"The Congress party's stand has been vindicated. The government has been exposed today," he said.
With PTI inputs
