The Supreme Court on August 2 sought the government’s response on petitions challenging the “piecemeal” tenure extensions given to Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
The petitions filed by the likes of Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, social activist and General Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Congress Mahila Committee Jaya Thakur have sought the quashing of a government order of November 2021 extending Mr. Mishra’s tenure by a year.
Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, the petitioners have questioned the legality of amendments made to the Central Vigilance Commission Act by way of promulgation of an ordinance in November last year. This ordinance, which allows extensions upto five years for ED Director, paved the way for the government to stretch Mr. Mishra’s tenure by a year till November 2022. The ordinance, which became an Act in December, was promulgated within days of a Supreme Court order barring any further extensions to Mr. Mishra, the petitioners contended.
