New Delhi: The Supreme Court made it clear on Wednesday that political arguments will not be entertained during the proceedings on West Bengal’s lawsuit against the Centre, which alleges that the CBI is conducting investigations despite the state’s withdrawal of general consent. Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta stressed that the court is solely focused on legal matters and will not allow either party to delve into political issues.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing West Bengal, argued that once the state had withdrawn its consent in November 2018, the Centre should not permit the CBI to conduct investigations within its borders. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, countered that the Union government does not exercise supervisory control over CBI investigations.
The bench reserved its verdict on the maintainability of the state’s lawsuit. Solicitor General Mehta emphasized that the arguments should remain confined to legal aspects, avoiding political content beyond the case’s pleadings. He highlighted that the Centre does not direct the registration of FIRs or supervise CBI investigations.
The lawsuit, filed under Article 131 of the Constitution, alleges that the CBI continues its investigations despite West Bengal’s withdrawal of general consent. This withdrawal occurred in November 2018 when the state revoked permission for the CBI to conduct probes or raids within its jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court’s ruling underscores its commitment to maintaining the sanctity of legal proceedings, preventing discussions that stray into political realms. The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the jurisdiction of federal investigative agencies in Indian states.
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