Can’t give more powers to CBI director: Centre

The Centre on Wednesday rejected CBI’s demand to grant of ex officio power of secretary to its director and allow him to report directly to the minister in charge by telling the Supreme Court that it will create new precedent and heartburn in similarly-placed organisations.  Holding the CBI as its ‘subordinate office’, the Centre rejected the plea to give more power to its director, saying that it would be bad in law if such demands are met which would result in ‘vesting unbridled power in one authority’.  In a 23-page affidavit filed in the apex court, the government said that although the director is in grade and pay scale of the Secretary but agency demand for ex officio power cannot be granted as it would alter the organisational relationship between the government department and its subordinate offices.