SC notice to Centre, asks CBI to set guidelines on raids
Supreme Court asks CBI and ED to safeguard rights of public
SC notice to Centre, asks CBI to set guidelines on raids:- Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and further probe agencies, on Monday which includes CBI and ED on a PIL which sought framing of the guidelines to safeguard the rights of common public against the alleged misuse of investigating powers during search and seizure.
A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and P C Pant has issued notice to the Centre on the plea filed by scribe Upendra Rai, contending that the probe agencies were allegedly “harassing and humiliating citizens while conducting searches at their residential premises” and these procedures need to be further regulated.
Also, besides issuing the notices to various Ministries, which also includes Home Affairs, Law and Justice and Finance, the court has also sought responses from the Law Commission of India, CVC, CBI, Department of Revenue, Enforcement Directorate and DRI.
“Issue a direction under the Article 32 of the Constitution in the form of adequate guidelines regulating the procedure of any search and seizure at the residential premises/dwelling units by all the investigating agencies in India,” the plea said and has also sought protection of fundamental rights of citizens including the protection of life and personal liberty.
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“Issue appropriate guidelines/measures in order to protect the Fundamental Rights under Article 19(1)(a), 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution, of the citizens against humiliation and harassment being caused to them by Investigating Agencies while they are conducting searches at their residential premises,” the PIL, filed through advocate Keshav Mohan, had said.
SC gives reference of raids conducted at Virbhadra Singh & B K Bansal’s residences
The plea has also given examples of the recent searches which were conducted at the residences of Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Director General of Corporate Affairs B K Bansal, whose wife and daughter has allegedly committed suicide here.
Moreover, the plea also referred to as a suicide note written by the mother-daughter duo that they took the extreme step due to the humiliation which was caused by CBI officials during the search operations at Bansal’s residence. His son too has been missing since the first CBI raid.
