A potential flashpoint between Centre & states

The Supreme Court of India recently ruled (NK Meena vs State of Rajasthan) that a State agency can investigate a complaint of corruption against a central government official without getting the Union government's approval.

- RK Raghavan

In the apex court's opinion, there is nothing in the law that prohibits a state government functionary from investigating charges levelled against a central official. This is a ruling that relied heavily on the judgment in AC Sharma vs Delhi Administration (1973), which dismissed the plea of the accused, a CPWD official, that only the CBI, and not the Delhi administration, could register a case against him. The recent ruling upsets the apple cart and could promote discord between the Centre and the states, particularly at a time when there is an acute lack of trust in the fairness of investigating agencies, both at the Centre and in states.