Who among the following shall be the chairperson of the committee constituted for recommending the name of Director under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) The Prime Minister of India.

Explanation:

The appointment of the Director of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE)—commonly known as the Director of the CBI—is governed by Section 4A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.

This section was significantly amended by the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to ensure a high-level, bipartisan selection process. According to the Act, the Central Government shall appoint the Director on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of:

1. The Prime Minister – Chairperson
2. The Leader of Opposition (or the leader of the single largest Opposition Party in the Lok Sabha) – Member
3. The Chief Justice of India (or a Judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the CJI) – Member

Information Booster:

The selection process is designed to ensure the independence of the CBI. Before 2014, the selection was primarily handled under the CVC Act, but the current "collegium" system ensures that both the judiciary and the opposition have a say in the appointment.

Key Appointment Rules:

• Term: The Director of the CBI has a fixed tenure of two years (under the DSPE Act). However, recent amendments in 2021 allow the government to extend this tenure by one year at a time, up to a maximum total of five years.
• Criteria: The committee recommends names from a panel of IPS officers provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, based on seniority, integrity, and experience in anti-corruption investigations.