'Govt decision a remedy worse than problem'

• Collegium of retired judges a proxy institution
• Govt-selected judges do not inspire confidence
• Govt should place views of all parties before SC

New Delhi (PTI): Terming the Cabinet's decision on CBI autonomy as a "camouflage", Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said on Sunday it creates an 'illusion' by replacing political executive with its proxy institution and the move should be opposed by one and all. The BJP leader said the Cabinet decision does not in any way immunize the CBI from political interference as was sought by the Supreme Court after the former Law Minister along with law officers and officials of PMO were "virtually caught red-handed" in attempting to "doctor" the CBI status report in the coal block allocation scam. He said media reports indicate that Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Group of Ministers, which include greater financial powers to the agency, a provision for time-bound sanctions to investigate government officials, appointment of a director by a collegium and the constitution of a panel of retired judges which will monitor investigations and ensure that there is no extraneous influence. Opposing the move, Jaitley said in his article, "To create an institutional mechanism of unaccountable retired judges appointed by the government to whom the CBI would be accountable will only result in the government perpetuating its political control over the CBI by removing itself from the scene and creating a proxy institution which will act on its behalf. This move should be opposed by one and all." He said "Government-selected retired judges do not inspire confidence", adding that "pre-retirement conduct at times has been influenced by the desire to get post a retirement job." He demanded that the government should place before the Supreme Court the recommendations of the Select Committee, the Cabinet decision of January 31, 2013 along with suggestions of other political parties that would result in ensuring immunity of CBI from political interference.