CJI asks CBI to maintain power of balance in search and seizure

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Monday emphasised the need for India’s top investigative bodies to prioritise cases related to national security and economic offenses against the nation. He was delivering 20th DP Kohli Memorial Lecture in Delhi.

- Ashish sinha

He remarked that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has broadened its scope, but should refocus on its core responsibilities. He emphasised the necessity for probe agencies to maintain a delicate equilibrium between their powers of search and seizure and the rights to privacy.

He said courts have been instrumental in strengthening the CBI. Initially, its jurisdiction was primarily focused on cases related to corruption, economic offences, and serious crimes that crossed state borders. As the years progressed, the CBI saw a significant expansion in its jurisdiction, encompassing a broader spectrum of offences. This widening scope empowered the agency to investigate diverse cases, ranging from economic frauds and bank scams to financial irregularities and terrorism-related incidents. One noteworthy instance of the CBI’s expanded purview occurred in the 1980s when it delved into the investigation of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.