‘Is no one else competent?' SC on Mishra’s extension as ED chief

New Delhi: "Are we not giving a picture that there is no other competent person and the entire department is full of incompetent people? Is it not demoralising for the department that it cannot function if this person is not there," a Supreme Court bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta onTursday even as it extended the tenure of Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra till September 15 midnight in larger "public and national interest."

The Centre had asserted that Mishra's continuity is necessary in view of the ongoing FATF peer review and attempts by India's neighbours to ensure the country falls in the grey list.

The top court, which initially made a sharp observation, later relented and accepted the Centre's request for extending Mishra's tenure but for a period that is a month less than what it had sought.

The Centre was seeking an extension for Mishra till October 15 from the earlier July 31 deadline set by the top court.

"We find that in ordinary circumstances, such an application could not have been entertained. Taking into consideration the larger public interest, we are inclined to permit respondent number-2 (Sanjay Kumar Mishra) to continue for some more period,'' the SC said. (PTI)