New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India Tuesday termed as illegal the extensions of Sanjay Kumar Mishra as of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director for violating the mandate of the top court's judgment in 2021.
The court, however, allowed him to continue in the post till July 31 taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Union government.
The Sanjay Kumar Mishra's term as ED Director was set to end in November 2023.
"Challenge to CVC Act and Delhi Special Police Establishment Act is dismissed to that extent. Extension granted to Sanjay Kumar Mishra after Supreme Court verdict is illegal. However, he is permitted to hold office till July 31, 2023," the Court ordered.
The bench held that the extension granted to Mishra was contrary to the 2021 judgment rendered by a division bench of the Supreme Court in this regard.
In March this year, senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan, the amicus curiae in the petitions challenging the extension of the tenure of Director of ED Mishra, told the Supreme Court that the extension was illegal.
Viswanathan cited the apex court's decisions in Vineet Narain and others vs. Union of India and Common Cause vs. Union of India to support his contention.
After the Supreme Court order, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday said that the apex court's verdict is a "slap" on the government's face.
"This is a slap on the government's face. The motive to give an extension has been questioned by the Supreme Court verdict," Venugopal said while talking to ANI.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah neanwhile said those rejoicing over the Supreme Court decision on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case are delusional for various reasons.
"Those rejoicing over the Hon'ble SC decision on the ED case are delusional for various reasons:
"The amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld." "Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same." "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", he wrote in a tweet.
"The amendments to the CVC Act, which were duly passed by the Parliament, have been upheld."
"Powers of the ED to strike at those who are corrupt and on the wrong side of the law remain the same."
"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", he wrote in a tweet.
"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", Amit Shah added.
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